186 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 27, 1885. 
drooping petals between the lobes, which an old writer says, was 
supposed to resemble the position of a woman’s leg when sitting on a 
aide saddle.” The origin of the generic name is less fanciful, and has 
nothing to do with the SaTracens as some might suppose, but simply com¬ 
memorates the name of a French physician, Dr. Sarrazin of Quebec, and 
was bestowed upon these plants by the botanist Tournefort. 
It has already been incidentally remarked that Sarracenias are in¬ 
habitants of swamps and similar situations in North America, and some 
idea can be formed from this as to the method of culture most likely to be 
successful. They are indeed easily cultivated, but there is considerable 
difference in the way their respective characters and attractions are 
developed, for when in their best condition they are extremely ornamental 
plants both for their pitchers and their flowers, but when badly treated 
they are not likely to attract much admiration, for they then have a 
miserable appearance. Mistakes are sometimes made in growing these 
plants by keeping them in too high a temperature, and this leads to 
lailure as much as anything, for it should be remembered that except 
during active growth the plants thrive much better in a cool temperature. 
At Kew Sarracenias have been very successfully grown for some years, and 
there the position chosen for them during the summer months is the porch 
of the cool Orchid house, where, in company with Pinguiculas, Dionreas, 
and Droseras, they thrive most satisfactorily, producing large and finely 
coloured pitchers. Liberal supplies of water is another point requiring 
careful attention, and even during the winter they must never be 
allowed to become thoroughly dry, while in hot weather syringing 
amongst the plants (but very lightly on the pitchers) is necessary to 
preserve a constant moisture. In the following note from Dr. Alexander 
Paterson, Fernfield, Bridge of Allan, whose fine hybrid is shown in fig. 33, 
page 181, and who succeeds as well with these plants as he does with his 
Orchids, all the essential points in the culture of Sarracenias are summed 
op. 
“ As to treatment adopted in the culture of Sarracenias, I find the 
best way to grow them is to imitate their native climate as much as 
possible. During the winter, when they are at rest, keep them cool : in 
the early spring, when they begin to start, they should be repotted in 
good fibrous peat and tuif with some fresh living sphagnum, powdered 
sheeps’ droppings, and horn shavings. Top-dress with chopped living 
sphagnum, and put them into a warm Orchid house or stove, where they 
will grow with vigour. To increase the number and size of the pitchers 
pmch off all flowers as they appear, and whenever the pitchers are fully 
developed remove the plants to a cooler house without any shade, as the 
sunlight developes the rich colour some of them have. By the first week 
of June they should be placed out of doors, exposed to the full blaze of 
the sun. As a bedding plant (the pots being plunged) nothing could be 
more interesting than a clump or bed of these interesting and curious 
plants. All the care they want is to be well supported by stakes and 
plenty of water. In autumn, before frost sets in, remove them indoors to 
their winter quarters, a cool greenhouse.” 
It should be remembered, in regard to the latter portion of Dr. Pater¬ 
son’s note, that Bridge of Allan is a favourtd spot ; yet there is no doubt 
that many of the plants could be treated as he suggests. Certainly, the 
old S. purpurea is frequently grown out of doors od rockeries all the 
winter with very little protection, but it cannot be said that it looks 
happy m the majority of cases, and all are safest and colour best in a 
cool house. 
The number of species of Sarracenias is not large, but in recent years 
very numerous and handsome hybrids have been raised, which comprise 
some of the most ornamental forms in cultivation, though in a few cases 
there is a strong family likeness which renders them rather difficult to 
distinguish. This is probably owing to the fact that it was found the 
plants grew very readily with each other, and in consequence many forms 
have been obtained, showing all intermediate, gradations of character. 
It is probable also that some of those which have been sent out as intro¬ 
ductions are natural hybrids. 
SPECIES AND VARIETIES OP SARRACENIAS. 
Those usually regarded as species, or at least as introduced forms of 
which the parentage is unknown, are as follows :— 
, (’• A t noSANG-UI nEA. An introduction from North America, sent out 
by Mr. Bull in 188°. In a young state the lid of the pitchers is green 
with red veins, but as they become older and larger the colour deepens to 
an intensely rich red hue with a glossy surface. 
1 CBI SPATA._Yery attractive. The pitchers and lids green, but the 
latter are beautifully veined with red in bold and regular lines. This is 
for 188C) r * BUirS introductions ’ and wa * described in his catalogue 
S. Drummondi.— a very handsome plant with tall pitchers, bright 
green at the lower part, beautifully mottled with white and veined with 
bright red at the upper part and in the lid, the flowers being purple 
This has been freely used in hybridising with good results, as it is a free- 
growing and really fine species. It inhabits swamps in Florida, whence 
in'ff 8 1 ° 4 troduCed rather more tban half a century ago. A plant is shown 
S. erythropus.— Remarkable for the deep red lids with which the 
neatly formed pitchers are furnished. It is another of Mr. Bull’s plants 
and was certificated by the Royal Botanic Society in 1881. ’ 
S. Fildesi.—A bold and handsome plant, the pitchers large andsome- 
wtmt trumpet-shaped, green veined with purple. Sent out by Mr B S 
Williams m 1881. J ’ 
S. flava.—T he original form of this, that figured in the “ Botanical 
magazine, t. 780, at the commencement of the present century, is much 
ess attractive than the varieties that have subsequently been obtained. 
Tt has narrow, straight, plain green pitchers, and medium-sized yellow 
flowers, and had then been known in gardens as a curiosity for several 
years. 
S. flava limbata. —A pretty variety, with the lid of the pitcher 
distinctly margined with red. Certificated by the Royal Botanic Society 
in 1881. 
S. FLAVA maxima. —Much superior to the ordinary form both in 
size and general beauty, the pitchers being very large, of a clear light 
green colour, and with large bright yellow flowers. It is a handsome 
companion for the dark-flowered Sarracenias. The light flower in fig. 34 
is one of this variety grown by Dr. Paterson. 
S. flava var. ornAta. —Distinguished by its bright green pitchers 
being closely netted with veins of a purplish hue, an extremely pretty 
contrast to the other forms of the species. 
S. flava picta. —This and the preceding are somewhat alike, the light 
green pitchers being beautifully veined with crimson at the upper part. 
S3, minor. —A diminutive form which has been confounded with S. 
variolaris, but quite distinct as represented in Sweet’s “Flower Garden,” 
New Series, p. 138. It has plain green straight pitchers and purple 
flowers, and is said to be a native of Georgia. 
8. porphtroneura. —A neat drawf form, the pitchers of medium size, 
with round lids, green veined with purple. Certificated at Regent’s Park 
in 1882. One ot Messrs. J. Yeitch & Sons’ additions to the genus. 
S. psittacina.- —The Parrot’s-bead Sarracenia is very pretty and dis¬ 
tinct, its small pitchers having a curiously curved lid or apex, purple or 
crimson, handsomely mottled with white. Introduced from Florida, 1866. 
S. purpurea. —Though not one of the most beautiful, this is interesting 
as being the first species introduced to England, having been imported by 
the younger Tradescant before 1640. The pitchers are green and red, the 
flowers purplish. 
S. rubra. —In this the lid is more acute or ovate than in most of the 
larger forms, and is green veined with red, the flowers being of a very 
rich red hue. 
_ S. vabiolAris. —A distinct form with narrow pitchers, the small lid 
being curved closely downwards, spotted with white and having a few red 
veins. The flowers differ from the others in the shorter greenish petals 
spreading instead of drooping. 
HYBRID SARRACENIAS. 
The best of the hybrids are as follows, the name given after each being 
that of theraiseror firm which sent it out in England, and the date, except 
where otherwise stated, indicates the year when it first appeared in the 
catalogues. 
S. Atkinsoniana (Bull).—A hybrid from S. purpurea and S. flava 
maxima, much resembling the latter. 
S. Chelsoni (Veitch, 1879).—A beautiful hybrid between S. rubra and 
S. purpurea, raised by Messrs. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, and especially in¬ 
teresting, as being the first of now numerous hybrids obtained artificially. 
In babitand form of the pitchers it is strikingly intermediate between the 
two parents, but it surpasses both in the rich crimson colour, and in this 
respect is one of the best of the cultivated forms. 
S. Courti (Veitch).—A very pretty and heat hybrid between S. 
psittacina and S. purpurea. The pitchers are deep red in colour, and 
form close tufts 4 to 5 inches across, and in some instances there are a 
dozen pitchers in that space. It is a curious and attractive form, 
evidently intermediate between the parents named, and partaking largely 
of the S. psittacina habit. It was certificated by the Royal Horticultural 
Society in 1881. and at the Regent’s Park in 1882. 
S. excellens, S. exculta, and S. exornata. —All hybrids sent out by 
Mr. Bull. 1, From S. variolaris and S. Drummondi alba. 2, From S. 
atropurpurea and S. crispata. They are pretty, but not remarkably 
distinct. 
S. Formosa (Bull).—A hybrid between S. psittacina and S. variolaris, 
and combines most of the attractive characters of each parent, being 
a dwarf, compact form, with prettily marked pitchers. A certificate was 
awarded for it at Manchester in 1881. 
S. iLLUSTRATA and S. Maddisoniana. —1, From S. flava picta and S. 
Stevensi, quite of the flava style. 2, S. variolaris and S. psittacina, 
prettily mottled. 
S. melanorhodA (Veitch). — A hybrid between S. purpurea and 
S. Stevensi, with pitchers 6 to 8 inches long, of an extremely dark red 
colour, almost black in some cases. It is a very distinct form, and has 
been honoured by certificates both at Manchester and South Kensington 
in 1881, and at Regent’s Park in 1882. 
S. MitchelliANA (Williams).—A hybrid between S. Drummondi 
rubra and S. purpurea, the pitchers large and very handsome, the lid 
broad, undulated, and heavily veined with deep red. Certificated in 1884 
at Regent’s Park. 
S. P atersoni. —A hybrid between S. purpurea and S. Drummondi, 
raised at Fernfield by Dr. A. Paterson, Fernfield, Bridge of Allan, N.B., 
about ten years ago, and of which there are only nine plants in cultivation 
—one at Sandringham, one at Glasnevin, one at Edinburgh, and six in 
Dr. Paterson’s possession, the plant exhibited at Kensington, August 11th, 
and then awarded a first-class certificate, being subsequently sent to the 
Royal Gardens, Kew. The pitchers are very strong, 12 to 18 inches high, 
proportionately broad, with a lid 4 inches in diameter and of a uniform 
rich dark red colour from the top to the base, the lids being veined on a 
slightly lighter ground colour. It is a very strong-growing handsome 
Sarracenia, and will take its place amongst the finest of those in culti¬ 
vation. Fig. 33 represents a portion of one of the pitchers, and in fig. 34 
