VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Sarracenia purpurea | Pitcher-Plant 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Pitcher-plants, although carnivorous, are also beneficial to several
insect species.  Ants, wasps, bees, butterflies, and moths are attracted
to pitcher-plant by its nectar.  Beetles and spiders visit the plants to
prey on other insects.  Spiders may spin a web inside the pitcher to
catch insects which fall inside [16].  Some flies live in the pitchers,
feeding on decomposing insects [9].  The larvae of a small, nonbiting
mosquito live only in the liquid held by pitcher-plant.  Unlike most
insects, these larvae are neither killed nor digested in the pitcher
fluid [9,26].

Pitcher-plant obtains prey species that are quite different from that of
other Sarracenia species.  A large number of grasshoppers, crickets, and
snails are captured.  Microhabitat segregation exists among
Sarracenica species in the same bog and may influence the types of prey
obtained [9].



PALATABILITY : 
NO-ENTRY


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


COVER VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Runoff from road-salt storage piles into an adjacent bog killed several
native bog species, which allowed the invasion of cattails (Typha
latifolia) and weedy annuals.  Several bog species, including
pitcher-plant, were successfully transplanted to damaged areas using
"living mats" from unimpacted areas of the bog.  Component species of
the mats included Sphagnum mosses, small cranberry (Vaccinium
oxycoccos), pitcher-plant, narrow-leaf sundew (Drosera intermedia), and
leatherleaf (Chamaedaphne calyculata augustifolia) [27].


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
The unique beauty and unusual mode of life of pitcher-plants make them
desirable as houseplants [8].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
The larvae of several moth species feed on or burrow in pitcher-plant,
sometimes infesting large areas and severely damaging the population
[26].

Collection of wild pitcher-plants for sale has resulted in localized
extinction in some areas.  A number of dealers currently specialize in
cultivating carnivorous plants, but collecting is still a problem, since
it is less costly [8].

Related categories for Species: Sarracenia purpurea | Pitcher-Plant