Sarracenia alata, also known as yellow trumpets,[1] pale pitcher plant or pale trumpet, is a carnivorous plant in the genus Sarracenia. Specifically, S. alata is an endemic species to North America; it is native to the southeastern regions of the United States, including parts of the Gulf Coast states.
| Sarracenia alata | |
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| Sarracenia alata flowers | |
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| S. alata pitchers emerging following a prescribed burn | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Sarraceniaceae |
| Genus: | Sarracenia |
| Species: | S. alata
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| Binomial name | |
| Sarracenia alata Alph.Wood
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| Sarracenia alata range | |
| Synonyms | |
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Distribution
editLike all Sarracenia species, S. alata is endemic to the New World, having evolved its perennial growth habit and insect-supplementation as a result of its unique ecological niche and environment. These pitcher plants grow in generally flat and low-lying areas, preferring protection from heavy breezes and high winds. They thrive where most plants would likely perish—in consistently saturated soils that are generally low in nutrients—as well as open wetlands, typically classified as longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) savannas.
The pale pitcher plant's habitat is split into two geographically separate areas: an eastern range from East Louisiana across the Gulf Coastline of Mississippi, and into West Alabama. The species also has a western range from East Texas into West Louisiana.[1] In Mississippi, there are mature, wild specimens of S. alata which rival the sheer size of any other Sarracenia species.
Description
editAmong members of Sarracenia the floral coloring of Sarracenia alata is remarkably varied. Flowers may be cream to white, greenish, yellow or reddish. As the floral color variations exist within populations hundreds of miles from any other Sarracenia species, these variations cannot be attributed to hybridization.[2] Other than the range of floral colors, Sarracenia alata differs little from Sarracenia rubra. The veining of Sarracenia rubra pitchers tends to be more reticulated whereas that of Sarracenia alata often exhibits more of a pinstripe pattern and grows taller pitchers.
References
edit- ^ a b USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Sarracenia alata". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
- ^ Sheridan, Philip M. "What is the identity of the west gulf coast pitcher plant, Sarracenia alata Wood?" Carnivorous Plant Newsletter 20 (1991): 102-110. PDF version
Further reading
edit- D’Amato, Peter. 1998. The Savage Garden: Cultivating Carnivorous Plants. Ten Speed Press, Berkeley. ISBN 0-89815-915-6