''Sarracenia jonesii'' is a species of pitcher plant endemic to seepage bogs in the appalachian mountains of

North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and So ...

and

South Carolina )''Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no) , anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind" , Former = Province of South Carolina , seat = Columbia , LargestCity = Charleston , LargestMetro = ...

. It is currently only found in ten locations: 4 in North Carolina and 6 in South Carolina. ''S. jonesii'' is listed as endangered by the US federal government.

Description

''Sarracenia jonesii'' has hollow tubular pitchers that are green in color with maroon veins. It is a stemless herbaceous perennial that requires full sunlight to grow. Flowers are usually maroon, 5-petaled and globular and produce a fragrant odor. The pitchers produced are narrow with a horizontal lid to prevent too much rain water from entering the tube. The pitcher attracts flies and other small insects to feed on it, luring them with colorful leaves and sweet smells. The sides of the pitcher are waxy and slippery, which prevents insects from escaping once trapped. The nectar paralyzes the insects and digestive fluids in the tubular leaf decompose the insect which allows the plant to then absorb nutrients. The plant ranges in height from 21–73 cm. The fragrant flowers are borne singly on erect scales from April to June, with seed set occurring in October.

Distribution

''Sarracenia jonesii'' is endemic to North Carolina and South Carolina. It can be found in bogs in the mountainous region on the border of the two states. It favors depression bogs and

cataract bog A cataract bog is a rare ecological community formed where a permanent stream flows over a granite outcropping. The sheeting of water keeps the edges of the rock wet without eroding the soil; in this precarious location no tree or large shrub can m ...

Conservation

''Sarracenia jonesii'' was listed as an endangered species in the United States due to its extremely limited distribution and because of its vulnerability as a species. ''Sarracenia jonesii'' as well as other species of ''

Sarracenia ''Sarracenia'' ( or ) is a genus comprising 8 to 11 species of North American pitcher plants, commonly called trumpet pitchers. The genus belongs to the family Sarraceniaceae, which also contain the closely allied genera '' Darlingtonia'' and ...

'' are often collected by enthusiastic plant collectors which furthers many of their statuses as endangered. The

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS or FWS) is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats. The mission of the agency is "working with oth ...

has stated that 16 of the 26 previously known locations of ''S. jonesii'' have been extirpated from North Carolina and South Carolina. In 2007,

Meadowview Biological Research Station Meadowview Biological Research Station is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to preserving and restoring rare wetland plants, habitats and associated ecosystems on the coastal plain of Maryland and Virginia. It was created in 1995 with ...

successfully reintroduced two populations of ''S. jonesii'' to its historic range in North Carolina to include the Biltmore Estate, under a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Grant, and Falling Creek Camp for Boys.Meadowview Biological Research Station
Reintroduction of Endangered Pitcher Plant to North Carolina
. Accessed online: 4 December 2007.Meadowview Biological Research Station. (2007)
March 2007 Newsletter
. Accessed online: 4 December 2007.

Taxonomy

The taxonomic status of ''S. jonesii'' has been widely debated in the past. It has been classified as a subspecies of '' S. rubra'', although recent research suggests that it is its own species. The disjunct distribution from other species of ''S. rubra'', differences morphologically, and unique coloration and fragrance from other subspecies of ''S. rubra'' suggest that it has adapted to suit different insects within its environment. Such changes constitute a speciation event, thus granting ''S. jonesii'' species status. ''Sarracenia jonesii'' was separated from the ''S. rubra'' complex by Case and Case, and isozyme studies conducted by Godt and Hamrick also support species status of ''S. jonesii''.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15232575 jonesii Carnivorous plants of North America Endemic flora of the United States Flora of North Carolina Flora of South Carolina Endangered flora of the United States