Post by Steve D on Mar 21, 2007 18:22:46 GMT
I have a question for Sarracenia experts in the forum--
This pertains to Sarracenia pitchers and the liquid inside the pitchers.
Do Sarracenia in general exude enough liquid into their pitchers from water absorbed by the roots to effectively drown prey; or do they depend on at least some rain to fall directly into the pitcher to provide enough liquid to drown their prey?
Sarracenia purpurea has pot-bellied pitchers with a ruffled margin that seems designed to collect and channel at least some rainwater into the pitchers in the wild, while Sarracenia flava and others of similar form have narrow pitchers with often wide hoods that seem designed to prevent rain from entering the pitcher openings.
So, does purpurea need some rainwater to supplement whatever fluid it may exude into its pitchers, and does flava not need any water over and above that which it may deposit into its own pitchers from its own roots and tissue? If there is a difference in this respect between purpurea and flava, then what about hybrids between the two, such as Sarracenia "Judith Hindle" ((Sarracenia purpurea x flava) x leucophylla) x ((Sarracenia purpurea x flava) x leucophylla).
Does a gardener/CP-enthusiast need to be mindful to put a little water into the pitchers of these plants when they are not exposed to rainfall (such as when grown indoors or in a greenhouse)? I hate to think of my Judith Hindle catching lots of insects (as it does) only to not be able to digest them for lack of fluid in the pitchers.
Best wishes all--
Steve D, New Mexico, US
This pertains to Sarracenia pitchers and the liquid inside the pitchers.
Do Sarracenia in general exude enough liquid into their pitchers from water absorbed by the roots to effectively drown prey; or do they depend on at least some rain to fall directly into the pitcher to provide enough liquid to drown their prey?
Sarracenia purpurea has pot-bellied pitchers with a ruffled margin that seems designed to collect and channel at least some rainwater into the pitchers in the wild, while Sarracenia flava and others of similar form have narrow pitchers with often wide hoods that seem designed to prevent rain from entering the pitcher openings.
So, does purpurea need some rainwater to supplement whatever fluid it may exude into its pitchers, and does flava not need any water over and above that which it may deposit into its own pitchers from its own roots and tissue? If there is a difference in this respect between purpurea and flava, then what about hybrids between the two, such as Sarracenia "Judith Hindle" ((Sarracenia purpurea x flava) x leucophylla) x ((Sarracenia purpurea x flava) x leucophylla).
Does a gardener/CP-enthusiast need to be mindful to put a little water into the pitchers of these plants when they are not exposed to rainfall (such as when grown indoors or in a greenhouse)? I hate to think of my Judith Hindle catching lots of insects (as it does) only to not be able to digest them for lack of fluid in the pitchers.
Best wishes all--
Steve D, New Mexico, US