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Sarracenia purpurea
  • Pitcher Plant

a perennial evergreen member of the Sarracenia genus in the family Sarraceniaceae.

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Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementshigh
    High
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • very acid,acid,neutral,alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 3
    Zone 3
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Sarracenia purpurea has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

There are no edible uses listed for Sarracenia purpurea.

Material uses

There are no material uses listed for Sarracenia purpurea.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The root and leaves are diuretic, hepatic, laxative, stomachic and tonic[1][2][3]. They are used in the treatment of dyspepsia, constipation, liver and kidney complaints[2]. A cold decoction of the whole plant has been used in the treatment of whooping cough[4].

An infusion of the dried leaves has been used in the treatment of fevers and shakiness[4]. An infusion of the leaves has been used to make childbirth easier and also for sickness associated with an absence of menstrual periods[4]. An infusion of the leaves was at one time considered to be a cure for smallpox[1][4], though this has never been substantiated[1].

An infusion of the roots has been used in the treatment of smallpox[5][6], there are conflicting reports as to its effectiveness[6]. A decoction of the root has been given to women to help expel the afterbirth and to prevent sickness after childbirth[4]. A strong decoction of the root has been used in the treatment of spitting blood and pulmonary complaints[4].

Unknown part

Diuretic
Hepatic
Kidney
Laxative
Oxytoxic
Stomachic
Tonic
Women's complaints

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - we have no information for this species but would suggest sowing the seed in light shade in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe if possible otherwise in early spring. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Consider giving the plants some protection from the cold for their first winter outdoors. Division might be possible.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Sarracenia purpurea. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Grow in sun or partial shade in peat or moss[7]. Requires a moist but well-drained position[1]. Plants require continuously moist conditions in a loose compost of sphagnum peat, live sphagnum and coarse acid sand[8]. They can be grown successfully in a plastic basin or in a pot that is standing in a deep saucer of water[8].

An insectivorous plant[2], it is best grown in a boggy position[9] in a soil that is low in nitrogen. The leaves form cups which become filled with water in which insects become trapped, drown and are digested by the plant[1].

A very ornamental and polymorphic plant[10], it is becoming very rare in the wild and is on the CITES II list of endangered species.

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Sarracenia purpurea. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Sarracenia purpurea.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Sarracenia purpurea
Genus
Sarracenia
Family
Sarraceniaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
Medicinal uses
[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Material uses & Functions
Botanic
[11][10]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
3
Heat Zone
?
Water
high
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    evergreen
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    0.3 x 0.3 meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    ?
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

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    "image:Purplepitcherplant.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

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    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.41.5 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.12.22.3 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.1 Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. ISBN 0395467225 (1990-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.24.34.44.54.6 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.1 Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. ISBN 0-8160-2624-6 (1993-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.16.2 Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books ISBN 0-449-90589-6 (1980-00-00)
    7. ? Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-86318-386-7 (1990-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.1 Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. ISBN 0-330-37376-5 (1998-00-00)
    9. ? F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    10. ? 10.010.1 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    11. ? Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. (1950-00-00)

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    Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Sarracenia_purpurea&oldid=80686"
    Facts about "Sarracenia purpurea"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familySarraceniaceae +
    Belongs to genusSarracenia +
    Has common namePitcher Plant +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone3 +
    Has imagePurplepitcherplant.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has mature height0.3 +
    Has mature width0.3 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useDiuretic +, Hepatic +, Kidney +, Laxative +, Oxytoxic +, Stomachic +, Tonic + and Women's complaints +
    Has primary imagePurplepitcherplant.jpg +
    Has search namesarracenia purpurea + and x +
    Has shade toleranceLight shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceVery acid +, Acid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy nameSarracenia purpurea +
    Has water requirementshigh +
    Is deciduous or evergreenEvergreen +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +