SWEET PITCHERPLANT 



Sarracenia rubra Walter 



One of the pitcherplants discovered by Walter and first described 

 in his Flora Caroliniana in 1788 was the inconspicuous sweet pitcher- 

 plant. Not only are its leaves and flowers smaller than those of most 

 other members of the genus, but it is also more delicate and more easily 

 injured by external influences such as late frost, severe drought, and 

 attacks by parasites. There is, however, one attractive feature in which 

 it surpasses all the others, namely, the exceedingly sweet odor of its 

 flowers, to which the common name refers. This fragrance closely re- 

 sembles that of grape blossoms, but also suggests crushed raspberries. 



This species, like the whitetop pitcherplant, shows evidence of 

 being a descendant of Sarracenia jonesii, but the changes were in the 

 opposite direction. Instead of an increase in stature and in complexity 

 of color pattern, the present species shows diminution in these re- 

 spects, and its fragrance seems to be the only feature in which it excels 

 its presumable ancestor. 



The specimen painted was grown in the Department of Agricul- 

 ture greenhouses, having originally come from South Carolina. 



PLATE 7 



