Image of California pitcherplant

Description:

California pitcher plant (Darlingtonia californica): This insectivorous species is one of ten in the relict family Sarraceniaceae, and the only member of its genus that still survives on Earth. Northwest California is a refuge for this species; here it survives as a hold-out of the ancient Tertiary forests that dominated the northern hemisphere millions of years ago. The cobra lily also supplements its diet by trapping insects but this species entices them inside the stem where its victims endure a slow deathby incarceration. Instead of its leaves or stems producing an enzyme to deal with digestion, the pitcher plant harbors bacteria and protozoa inside its 'pitcher.' In a symbiotic relationship, the digestion is done by microbes and nutrients are shared. This species is restricted to fens, which are spring fed wetlands. It is often incorrectly stated that pitcher plants live in bogsa rare habitat in California which consists of standing water and an accumulations of acidic peat.