Sarracenia alabamensis Case & R.B. Case ssp. alabamensis

Alabama Canebrake Pitcher Plant; Alabama Pitcher Plant

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Alabama Canebrake Pitcher Plant is a native herbaceous perennial in the Pitcher Plant family (Sarraceniaceae). It is endemic to Autauga and Chilton, and Elmore Counties in Alabama. Alabama Canebrake Pitcher Plant grows in hillside seeps, bogs, and along streams in open, fire maintained Longleaf Pine forests. There are 11 known populations, but only 5 of those consist of more than 10 clumps. Alabama Canebrake Pitcher Plant is a perennial from a rhizome. Three types of leaves are produced: phyllodia, spring trap leaves, and summer trap leaves. Phyllodia are flat non-trap leaves that function in photosynthesis and are usually green in color. They may be the only leaf type produced by plants in dense shade. Spring trap leaves are smaller than summer trap leaves, hollow, glabrous, and often decumbent. Summer trap leaves are larger, pubescent, and erect. Trap leaves are dull yellow-green to bronze-red in color, with maroon veins near the top on the inner surface. These leaves act as traps for insects which drown in a mixture of rainwater and enzymes in the pitcher. Flowers are solitary on a scape that is longer than the leaves. Flowers are bright red in color. The fruit is a capsule. Alabama Canebrake Pitcher Plant was listed as an Endangered Species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on April 10, 1989. Major threats to the plants include over collecting, lack of fire, and conversion of its habitat into ponds.--A. Diamond

The original Case & Case publication (1974) describing Sarracenia alabamensis and Sarracenia alabamensis ssp. wherryi was invalidated due to a methodology error in assigning type specimens. Subsequently, Schnell (1978) transferred both invalid names to subspecies of S. rubra which produced an invalid name S. rubra ssp. alabamensis and the VALID S. rubra ssp wherryi. Case (2005) later corrected the error which validated both S. alabamensis and S. alabamensis ssp. wherryi.--B. Keener Listed as <a href="https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/profile/speciesProfile?spcode=Q2HZ">Federally Endangered</a> as of 10 Mar 1989.</a> Unfortunately, the name used at the time of listing was the earlier invalid combination: Sarracenia rubra ssp. alabamensis.

Native Endemic Endangered-US S1S2 (State Rank) G4T1 (Global Rank)

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