''Sarracenia psittacina'', also known as the parrot pitcherplant, is a

carnivorous plant Carnivorous plants are plants that derive some or most of their nutrients from trapping and consuming animals or protozoans Protozoa (singular: protozoan or protozoon; alternative plural: protozoans) are a group of single-celled eukaryot ...

in the

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

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 ...

''. Like all the ''Sarracenia'', it is native to

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

, in the

Southeastern United States The Southeastern United States, also referred to as the American Southeast or simply the Southeast, is a geographical region of the United States. It is located broadly on the eastern portion of the southern United States and the southern por ...

. ''Sarracenia psittacina'' employs the same trapping mechanism as ''

Darlingtonia californica ''Darlingtonia californica'' , also called the California pitcher plant, cobra lily, or cobra plant, is a species of carnivorous plant. It is the sole member of the genus ''Darlingtonia'' in the family Sarraceniaceae. This pitcher plant is nativ ...

'', using a small entrance in the pitcher mouth, which prey goes through in search of more

nectar Nectar is a sugar-rich liquid produced by plants in glands called nectaries or nectarines, either within the flowers with which it attracts pollinating animals, or by extrafloral nectaries, which provide a nutrient source to animal mutualists ...

that was produced by the plant on the rim of the pitcher mouth. The prey is then confused by light shining through what appear to be false exits (or "windows") and crawls toward the brighter area down into the pitcher. Criss-crossed downward-facing hairs densely line the interior of the pitcher, forcing the prey further into the pitcher to an area where digestive enzymes such as

protease A protease (also called a peptidase, proteinase, or proteolytic enzyme) is an enzyme that catalyzes (increases reaction rate or "speeds up") proteolysis, breaking down proteins into smaller polypeptides or single amino acids, and spurring the ...

s are prevalent in the liquid. This species is frequently submerged in its native habitat and will capture water arthropods and tadpoles, for example, while submerged.D'Amato, Peter. 1998. '' The Savage Garden: Cultivating Carnivorous Plants''. Ten Speed Press, Berkeley. Schnell, Donald E. 2002. ''Carnivorous Plants of the United States and Canada'', Second Edition. Timber Press: Portland, Oregon.

Infraspecific taxa

*''Sarracenia psittacina'' f. ''heterophylla'' J. & J.Ainsworth (1996) '' nom.nud.'' *''Sarracenia psittacina'' var. ''minor'' Hook. (1834) Image:Sarracenia psittacina0.jpg, ''Sarracenia psittacina'' flower Image:Sarracenia psittacina2.jpg, ''Sarracenia psittacina'' Image:Sarracenia psittacina1.jpg, ''Sarracenia psittacina'' Image:Parrot pitcherplant - Stierch.jpg

References

psittacina Carnivorous plants of North America Endemic flora of the United States Flora of the Southeastern United States Least concern flora of the United States Plants described in 1803 {{Ericales-stub