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Green pitcher plant Facts

Green pitcher plant Facts
Green pitcher plant is type of carnivorous plant that belongs to the family of pitcher plants. It is native to North America and it can be found only in the restricted parts of North Carolina, Alabama and Georgia today. Green pitcher plant grows on the sandy or clayey soil in the pine flatwoods, seepage bogs and along the river banks. It prefers open areas that provide plenty of sun. Unfortunately, number of green pitcher plants in the wild has dropped dramatically in the past couple of decades due to uncontrolled collecting from the wild (as a result of increased interest in exotic species of plants) and habitat destruction. Green pitcher plant is on the list of critically endangered species of plants.
Interesting Green pitcher plant Facts:
Green pitcher plant can reach 8 to 30 inches in height.
Leaves of green pitcher plant are modified into pitcher-shaped tube, hence the name "green pitcher plant".
Green pitcher plant has greenish-yellow leaves with prominent red or purple veins arranged in the form of net. Leaves create narrow tube with tapered bottom and circular, mouth-like opening on the upper part. Circular lid above the "mouth" of pitcher prevents dilution of digestive enzymes inside the tube after the rain.
Formed pitcher serves as a trap for insects. Green pitcher plant produces nectar which attracts different types of insects. Once insects end up trapped inside a tube, downwards-oriented hairs prevent their escape. Digestive enzymes in the pitcher soon transform them into valuable nutrients that plant can absorb.
Green pitcher plant is deadly trap for most insects. Only large insects such as wasps can escape by creating a hole in the wall of pitcher.
Aside from modified leaves, green pitcher plant also has basal leaves at the bottom of the stem. They are flat and sickle-shaped.
Green pitcher plant produces long, leafless flowering stalk that bears yellow, green or yellow-green flowers. Flowers emit feline-like odor and possess both types of reproductive organs.
Green pitcher plant blooms from April to June. Flowers attract insects such as bees that are responsible for the pollination of this plant.
Fruit of green pitcher plant is dry, warty capsule.
Green pitcher plant propagates via seed and division of the root.
Green pitcher plant enters period of dormancy at the end of the summer when bogs start to dry.
Carnivorous nature of green pitcher plant represents adaptation to the lack of nutrients (such as nitrogen) in the ground.
Fire plays important role in the life cycle of the green pitcher plant (it ensures creation of the new generation of plants).
Green pitcher plant is not very common in horticulture because of its slow growth, long period of dormancy and low number of cultivars.
Green pitcher plant is perennial plant that can survive 20 to 30 years in the wild.


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