Jones' pitcher plant facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jones' pitcher plant |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Sarracenia
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| Species: |
jonesii
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| Range of Sarracenia jonesii | |
| Synonyms | |
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Sarracenia jonesii subsp. jonesii (Wherry) Wherry |
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The Jones' pitcher plant, known scientifically as Sarracenia jonesii, is a special type of pitcher plant. It was discovered by Edgar T. Wherry. This plant grows only in certain wet, marshy areas called bogs. You can find it in the mountains along the border of North Carolina and South Carolina. Sadly, S. jonesii is an endangered species. This means it is at risk of disappearing forever. Today, it is found in only ten places: four in North Carolina and six in South Carolina.
Contents
What is the Jones' Pitcher Plant?
The Sarracenia jonesii is a plant that does not have a stem. It grows back every year. It needs lots of sunlight to grow well. Its leaves are shaped like hollow tubes, which are called pitchers. These pitchers are usually green with maroon (dark red) veins.
How it Catches Food
The pitchers have a special job: they catch insects!
- The plant lures insects with its bright colors and sweet smells.
- The top of the pitcher is like a small lid. It sticks out to keep too much rain from getting inside.
- The sides of the pitcher are very slippery and waxy. Once an insect falls in, it is hard for it to climb out.
- Inside the pitcher, there is a sweet liquid called nectar. This nectar can make insects unable to move.
- The plant then uses special fluids to break down the insect. This allows the plant to get nutrients from it.
- This plant mostly eats flies and other small insects.
Flowers and Seeds
The flowers of the Jones' pitcher plant are usually maroon. They have five petals and are shaped like a ball. These flowers smell nice. They grow on tall stalks from April to June. After the flowers bloom, the plant makes seeds in August. The plant itself can grow to be about 21 to 73 centimeters tall.
Where Does the Jones' Pitcher Plant Live?
The Sarracenia jonesii plant is found only in North Carolina and South Carolina. It lives in wet, marshy areas called bogs. These bogs are in the mountains along the border of these two states. It especially likes two types of bogs:
- Depression bogs: These are wet areas in low spots.
- Cataract bogs: These are wet areas near waterfalls or fast-moving water.
Why is the Jones' Pitcher Plant Endangered?
The Jones' pitcher plant is an endangered species in the United States. This is because it lives in very few places. It is also easy for this plant to be harmed.
- Many people like to collect Sarracenia plants, including S. jonesii. This collecting makes it harder for the plants to survive in the wild.
- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has reported that 16 out of 26 places where S. jonesii used to grow have now lost all their plants.
Helping the Plants Grow Again
Good news! In 2007, a group called the Meadowview Biological Research Station helped bring the S. jonesii plant back to some places where it used to live in North Carolina. They did this with help from a special grant. Some of these places include the Biltmore Estate and Falling Creek Camp for Boys. This helps to make sure these special plants don't disappear.
How Scientists Classify the Plant
For a long time, scientists debated how to classify S. jonesii.
- Some thought it was just a type of S. rubra, another pitcher plant.
- However, newer research shows that S. jonesii is its own unique species.
Why It's Its Own Species
There are several reasons why scientists now believe S. jonesii is a separate species:
- It grows in different areas than other S. rubra plants.
- It looks different from other S. rubra plants.
- It has unique colors and smells. These differences suggest it has adapted to attract different insects in its environment.
- Studies using special genetic tests also support that S. jonesii is its own species.
