| Jones' pitcher plant | |
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| Sarracenia jonesii" | |
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| Sarracenia jonesii | |
Jones' pitcher plant (Sarracenia jonesii) is a species of pitcher plant endemic to the bogs in the mountains on the border between North Carolina and South Carolina, discovered by Edgar T. Wherry. It is currently only found in ten locations: 4 in North Carolina and 6 in South Carolina[1] .S. jonesii is listed as endangered by the US federal government[2].
Description edit
S. jonesii has hollow tubular pitchers that are green in color with maroon veins. It is a stemless herbaceous perennial that required full sunlight to grow. Flowers are usually maroon, 5-petalled and globular and produce a fragrant odor. The pitchers produced are narrow with a horizontal lid to prevent too much rain water from entering the tube. The pitcher attracts flies and other small insects to feed on it, luring them with colorful leaves and sweet smells. The sides of the pitcher are waxy and slippery which prevent insects from escaping once trapped. The nectar paralyzes the insects and digestive fluids in the tubular leaf decompose the insect, absorbing nutrients[3] . The plant ranges in height from 21-73 cm. The fragrant flowers are borne singly on erect scales from April to June, with seed set occurring in August[4] .
Endangerment edit
S. jonesii was placed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species due to its extremely limited distribution and because of its vulnerability as a species. S. jonesii as well as other species of Sarracenia are often collected by enthusiastic plant collectors which furthers many of their statuses as endangered. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has stated that 16 of the 26 known locations of S. jonesii have been extirpated from North Carolina and South Carolina.
Taxonomy edit
The taxonomic status of S. jonesii has been widely debated in the past. It has been classified as a subspecies of S. rubra, though recent research suggests that it is its own species[5] . The disjunct distribution from other species of S. rubra, differences morphologically, and unique coloration and fragrance from other subspecies of S. rubra suggest that it has adapted to a suit different insects within its environment. Such changes constitute a speciation event, thus granting S. jonesii species status[6] [7] . S. jonesii was separated from the S. rubra complex by Case and Case[8] , and isozyme studies conducted by Godt and Hamrick[9] also support species status of S. jonesii[10] .
Distribution edit
S. jonesii is endemic to North Carolina and South Carolina. It can be found in bogs in the mountainous region on the border of the two states. It favors depression bogs and cataract bogs[11] .
References edit
- ^ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1990). "Mountain Sweet Pitcher Plant Recovery Plan".
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ USDA. "Jones' pitcher plant". USDA. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
- ^ Missouri Botanical Garden. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=b931. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ Massy, J. R. (1983). "An atlas and illustrated guide to the threatened and endangered vascular plants of the mountains of north Carolina and Virginia". Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, Asheville, NC.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ McDaniel, S. T. (1986). "Taxonomic study of three Sarracenia subspecies". U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
- ^ Benjamin, S. (1993). "Sarracenia jonesii Wherry (mountain sweet pitcher plant)". Natural Areas Journal. 13: 124–129.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Godt, Mary Jo W. (August 1996). "Genetic Structure of Two Endangered Pitcher Plants, Sarracenia jonesii and Sarracenia oreophila (Sarraceniaceae)". American Journal of Botany. 83 (8): 1016–1023. doi:10.1002/j.1537-2197.1996.tb12798.x.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ Case, F. W. (1976). "The Sarracenia rubra complex". Rhodra. 78: 270–325.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Godt, Mary Jo W. (August 1996). "Genetic Structure of Two Endangered Pitcher Plants, Sarracenia jonesii and Sarracenia oreophila (Sarraceniaceae)". American Journal of Botany. 83 (8): 1016–1023. doi:10.1002/j.1537-2197.1996.tb12798.x.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ Ellison, Aaron M. (March 2001). "Interspecific and intraspecific variation in seed size and germination requirements of Sarracenia (Sarraceniaceae)". American Journal of Botany. 88 (3): 429–437. doi:10.2307/2657107. JSTOR 2657107.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ Godt, Mary Jo W (August 1996). "Genetic Structure of Two Endangered Pitcher Plants, Sarracenia jonesii and Sarracenia oreophila (Sarraceniaceae)". American Journal of Botany. 83 (8): 1016–1023. doi:10.1002/j.1537-2197.1996.tb12798.x.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)