Carnivorous plants of the United States and Canada

138 Pages·1976·17.958 MB·English

by  Schnell, Donald E

CARNIVOROUS PLANTS
of the United States and Canada
by Donald E. Schnell
CARNIVOROUS PLANTS
of the United States and Canada
Sarracenia flava
JOHN F. BLAIR, Publisher
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
CARNIVOROUS PLANTS
of the United States and Canada
by Donald E. Schnell
Copyright © 1976 by Donald E. Schnell
Library of Congress Catalog
Card Number: 76-26883
All rights reserved
ISBN 0-910244-90-1
Printed in the United States of America
by Lebanon Valley Offset Company Incorporated
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Schnell, Donald E 1936-
Carnivorous plants of the United States and
Canada.
Bibliography: p.
Includes index.
1. Insectivorous plants—United States. 2. I
sectivorous plants—Canada. I. Title.
QK917.S36 583'.121'0973 76-26883
ISBN 0-910244-90-1
Sarracenia psittacina
For Lee Anne
& Kristen
Foreword
By C. RITCHIE BELL
Professor, Department of Botany,
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
and Director, North Carolina Botanical
Garden, Chapel Hill
Since their discovery by botanists over two hundred of the plant world from rapid extinction through a
years ago, the world's carnivorous plants have been the combination of realistic protection from continued col
center, from time to time, of much scientific study and lecting, conservation of their specialized habitats,
public interest. They have also been the center of a responsible horticultural research, and the general cul
number of misconceptions and, in the past few years, tivation of only those plants actually grown from seeds
of considerable commercial exploitation. or, where possible, cuttings.
Carnivorous plants are both colorful and biologi
C. R. B.
cally interesting, but they are not house plants. Their
July, 1976
specific environmental requirements often involve very
high humidity, high light intensities, quite acid soil,
pure water, and seasonal temperature changes; such
requirements are not met by a pot of generalized dirt,
treated tap water, and the usual temperature and hu
midity ranges of the average home, office, or apart
ment! It is likely that not one "cultivated" carnivorous
plant in a thousand lives a full year and probably less
than one in ten thousand survives for two years in the
hands of most amateur "collectors" or those who, un
fortunately, are misled by the commercial advertise
ments for these unique plants and attempt to grow
them, merely as a novelty, on the kitchen window sill.
Given the above background, this book becomes
something of a landmark in carnivorous plant publica
tion. Not only does it bring together in a very readable
fashion the many interesting botanical facts concerning
the form, function, and ecology of our carnivorous
plants, but the author makes a strong, and very timely,
case for the preservation of these unique members
vi / Carnivorous Plants of the United States and Canada
Preface
This book is intended for practical use. It is not con more readily observed plants or those that would best
ceived of as a coffee table or bookcase ornament; the illustrate general characteristics, or perhaps grouping
entire plan and structure of the work is centered around similar species together so that comparisons could be
utility. seen.
The photographs have been chosen with a view The carnivorous fungi have been excluded. The book
toward sharpness of important features, clarity, color deals only with the green seedplants. Fungi require cul
fidelity, and most of all, how well they represent the ture and microscopes for proper observation, and the
plant. You will find only a few drawings in this book, species are in a state of taxonomic disarray at present.
and these are mainly of a figurative nature. The trouble While fascinating and certainly deserving of further
with using only botanical drawings for identification is study, they are not ready for this sort of presentation.
that they represent a two-dimensional, colorless av The text is not complete in the classical botanical
erage of characteristics in an ideal plant that rarely sense of a monograph, but it was not intended to be.
exists. This presents a problem for the beginner in the On the other hand, the occasional or beginning natu
field, who has a book of drawings in hand but sees no ralist may find more than he needs and can easily be
plants that resemble any of the drawings, or perhaps selective in what he reads. Those interested in further
sees too many. study will find references on many levels at the end
The photos are intended to show the plants as they of the book.
really are, and most of the pictures have been made in
• • •
the field. If some of the photographs seem pretty or
artistic, that is just a bonus. Since no view of a plant I would like to thank John F. Blair, Publisher, and
or group of plants can show all the important character his staff for taking on this project in the first place,
istics one might wish to see, I have presented multiple and then seeing it through to a quality production.
views of them where necessary. Warren P. Stoutamire was kind enough to read por
Occasionally, in the field, where the natural back tions of the text and offer many useful suggestions.
grounds tended to camouflage, I have had to resort to Letters and discussions with Peter Taylor and Katsu-
the use of a neutral gray background, reflectors, or an hiko Kondo were very helpful to me in developing my
cillary lighting to make the subjects stand out properly. tentative concepts of the difficult taxonomy of Utricu-
Only a few pictures were made under studio condi laria, but I bear full responsibility for the system
tions, using live plants from my collection. After hav presented in Chapter 7, including errors. Finally, I
ing observed, grown, and worked with carnivorous offer tenderest appreciation to my wife Brenda, who
plants for eighteen years, I felt capable of making a has been patient and encouraging during the prep
proper selection of cultivated plants for photography. aration of this book and who has accompanied me
I have departed from the traditional botanical scheme on many field trips, often serving as my stern early-
of presenting species within a genus in alphabetical or warning system for potentially dangerous reptiles,
other order, preferring to start with some common, quicksand, and treacherous bogholes.
vii / Preface

Contents
Foreword vi Drosera anglica 61
Drosera intermedia 63
Preface vii Drosera filiformis 64
Drosera capillaris 67
Chapters Drosera brevifolia 69
Difficult Identifications 70
I. Carnivorous Plants—An Introduction 1
Carnivorous or Insectivorous Plants? 4 VI. The Butterworts (Pinguicula) 71
Kinds of Traps 4 Pinguicula vulgaris 74
Carnivorous Plants around the Continent 6 Pinguicula pumila 76
The Future of Carnivorous Plants 9 Pinguicula lutea 77
Flower Structure 10 Pinguicula caerulea 78
How Plants Are Named 13 Pinguicula planifolia 78
Pinguicula primuliflora 79
II. The Venus' Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) 16 Pinguicula ionantha 80
Pinguicula villosa 81
III. The Eastern North American Difficult Identifications 82
Pitcher Plants (Sarracenia) 22
Sarracenia purpurea 28 VII. The Bladderworts (Utricularia) 83
Sarracenia flava 31
VIII. Growing North American
Sarracenia alata 34
Carnivorous Plants 96
Sarracenia oreophila 36
General Principles 96
Sarracenia minor 37
Genus Notes 106
Sarracenia psittacina 40
An Outdoor Home Bog 109
Sarracenia leucophylla 42
Some Commercial Sources of
Sarracenia rubra 44
Carnivorous Plants 111
Sarracenia Hybrids 47
Field Collecting 112
Difficult Identifications 51
Additional Reading 114
IV. The California Pitcher Plant
(Darlingtonia californica) 52
Glossary 118
V. The Sundews (Drosera) 56 Derivations of Scientific Names 121
Drosera rotundifolia 58
Drosera linearis 59 Index 124
ix / Contents