Sarracenia leucophylla Raf.

Whitetop Pitcher Plant; Crimson Pitcher Plant; Fiddler's Trumpet

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Whitetop Pitcher Plant is a native herbaceous perennial in the Pitcher-Plant family (Sarraceniaceae). It is native to the southern third of Alabama. Whitetop Pitcher Plant occurs in bogs, along streams, in seeps, in low pine woods, and on roadsides. It is a perennial with a thick rhizome. Two types of leaves are produced—trap leaves and phyllodia. The phyllodia are flattened leaf stalks that function as leaves. They are green in color, non-inflated, and lanceolate in outline. They are produced most abundantly in the fall or when the plant is in shade. The trap leaves are erect, hollow, tubular in shape with an arching hood over the opening. The trap leaves are green towards the base and white with red veins near the opening. They are pubescent with downward pointing hairs. The hollow interior of the leaf in partially filled with rain water and digestive enzymes. Insects attracted to the colorful leaves drown in the fluid and are digested by the plant. Flowers are solitary on a long scape. The flowers are nodding and red in color. Each flower has 5 persistent triangular sepals and 5 petals. The petals droop between the lobes of the enlarged style disc. The fruit is a capsule. Whitetop Pitcher Plant is listed as a S3 species in Alabama (typically 21 to 100 occurrences, limited acreage, or miles of stream in the state), and globally as a G3 species (imperiled globally because of rarity (6 - 20 occurrences, or few remaining acres, or miles of stream) or very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range because of other factors). Whitetop Pitcher Plant is available from nurseries specializing in carnivorous plants. It requires a wet acidic soil in full sun.--A. Diamond

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Native OBL (NWPL) S3 (State Rank) G3 (Global Rank)

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