PALE PITCHERPLANT 



Sarracenia sledgei Macfarlane 



Although collected by Drummond in Louisiana as early as 1832., 

 pale pitcherplant was not correctly interpreted for more than 

 seventy years. At first it was confused with Sarracenia flava, a species 

 that occurs farther east, and later it was thought to represent one 

 that had been collected by Elliott in South Carolina and named 

 Sarracenia cateshaei. Then, in 1504, Dr. J. M. Macfarlane discovered that 

 the plant to which Elliott had applied the latter name represented a 

 hybrid between two species, so that a new name was needed for the 

 pale pitcherplant. Finally, in 1907, Macfarlane named it Sarracenia 

 sledgei in honor of Dr. W. H. Sledge, of Mobile, who had sent him 

 specimens and living plants to enable him to study and describe its 

 features. 



Although closely related to, and presumably a direct descendant 

 of, the green pitcherplant, the present species differs in the absence 

 of short flat leaves and in the greater delicacy and creamy color of 

 the petals. The specimen sketched was grown in the United States 

 Department of Agriculture greenhouses by Dr. Frederick V. Coville 

 from roots sent from Mobile, Alabama. 



PLATE 3 



