Northern Pitcher Plant - Sarracenia purpurea

This beautiful plant has pitcher-like leaves that collect water. Insects that are attracted to the plant fall into the pitcher and then have a hard time crawling back out because the bottom of the pitchers have smooth surfaces, in addition to recurved hairs near the top. So, trapped insects will eventually fall into the water that collects at the bottom of the pitcher and drown. The plant secretes enzymes, which help digest the insects. However, most of the breakdown is passive and results from bacterial activity.

The flowers grow atop leafless stalks in the spring.

Habitat: Bog