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SARRACENIA PURPUREA. 
(purple side-saddle flower.) 
class. order. 
POLYANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 
NATURAL ORDER. 
SARRACENIE^. 
Generic Character Calyx of five sepals, at their base concave. Corolla of five petals, contracted at 
the base. Stamens, many hypogynous. Anthers oblong, two-celled. Ovary one, globose, furrowed. 
Style in the form of columns, {columnar,) surmounted by a broad, leafy, circular, five-angled 
stigma. Capsule globose, crowned by the remaining style and stigma. 
Specific Character. — Plant, a frame perennial growing only a few inches high, with very short leaves, 
contracted at the top, with the tube protuberant and inflated, and the covering, or wing, or helmet-like 
appendage, erect, broadly cordate, and now and then emarginate. 
A SINGULAR, yet handsome plant, found inhabiting the swamps of North 
America, whence it was introduced to our gardens many years ago. 
The singularity of it consists in the novel form of the leaves, which are of a 
tubular shape, very similar to the body of a common pitcher, and like it are capable 
of holding water ; and, as has been alleged to prevent the exhalation of the water, 
each leaf is furnished with a lid or cover, which shrinks and fits quite close over the 
mouth of the tube in dry weather ; thus making a resort in time of drought for 
birds to drink. Notwithstanding these singularities, which, to the admirer of 
nature, are of peculiar interest, the plant in the flowering state is very handsome ; 
the flower-stalk rises a foot or more high from the centre of the leaves, surmounted 
at the top with the flower, which, by a curve near the extremity of the flower-stalk, 
is reversed, so as to turn the top part of it to face the leaves, seemingly proud of 
its peculiar formation and gay purple colour. 
Although found inhabiting the low swamps in North America about Quebec, 
Lake Horn, and probably common throughout Canada, and as far north as Bear 
Lake, and as far south as Carolina, they have not been found to endure the open 
air in Britain : they are found to do best in a frame in a shaded situation, or in a 
stove, planted in pots filled with pieces of peat at the bottom, and sphagnum or 
water-moss at the top, and the pots placed in pans of water; they also do very well 
