PITCHER PLANTS. 



SARKACENIACE^. 

 Pitcher Plant. Sarracenia purpurea. 



Huntsman's Cup. 

 Side-Saddle Flower. 



F.ound in swamps in early June. 



The leaves and flower-stems grow directly from the root. 



The curious leaf is in the form of a deep cup or pitcher, with a 

 broad wing on one side, and a flaring top which answers to the lip of 

 the pitcher ; the outer surface is smooth "while the inner surface is set 

 with many short, downward-pointing bristles ; the texture, especially (pf 

 the old pitchers, is tough and leathery, and the color is a strong green 

 more or less veined with dark red. A number of leaf-cups grow in a 

 cluster close to the ground. 



The large flower has 5 long dull red petals rounded at the ends, 

 and folded over the large umbrella-like top of the pistil ; beneath this 

 spreading green top is the large seed-case encircled by the many yellow 

 stamens ; the 5 spreading parts of the calyx ai-e thick and leathery, of 

 a dull reddish-brown on the outside, and green on the inside, with the 

 brown striking through in places. A single nodding flower grows on 

 the top of a long, smooth, light green stem. 



The pitchers are often found half filled with water, and sometimes 

 contain the remains of small insects upon which the plant is said to 

 feed. There is no apparent resemblance to a " side-saddle " in the 

 flower unless it lies in the leathery texture of its parts. It might 

 fittingly be called " the Russia-leather flower." 



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