Pitcher Plant

In 2015, while out on a summer houseboat excursion, I decided to bush-whack into a couple of small (unnamed) lakes located approximately 500 meters inland from the shoreline of Lac Seul.  I was intrigued because the map indicated elevation of these lakes was 380 meters above sea level (asl) and they drained into Lac Seul which is about 356 meters asl.  This represents a drop of about 24 meters over a relatively short distance.  I was curious to see what these lakes looked like so I hiked into the bush to investigate.   

Seemed like a good idea at the time.  As it turned out, there was wide perimeter of swamp and bog around the closest lake.  Getting close to the edge of the lake meant getting wet feet.  Also, (did I mention it was summer?), the infestation of thirsty insects (mosquitos and horse/deer flies) was very thick.  On the bright side, there was an entire lush area filled with numerous pitcher plants.

The pitcher plant (Sarracenia purpurea) is a carnivorous plant that eats insects.  With the abundance of the voracious insects that I encountered in this location it was no wonder that a plethora of very healthy looking pitcher plants were residents of the area.

Referred to as “northern pitcher plant” or “the purple pitcher plant” there is only one natural species of pitcher plants located in Canada.  The patterning and colouration of the deep veins running the plant attracts prey (like flies).  The pitcher plant is typically located within the thin, nutrient deficient soils of swamps or boggy areas across Canada and obtain the nutrients required for survival (but lacking in the soil) by absorbing it through their insect prey.  The leaves of the pitcher plant have evolved to be rounded (like a pitcher) into which rain water collects to create a trap of pooled water.  Using sweet-smelling nectar, the plant lures insect prey in.  Once an insect falls into the pitcher pool it is all but impossible to get out as the water trap contains sugars and digestive-enzymes that dissolve they prey almost instantly.  How cool is that?

Please note: information about the pitcher plant was obtained from Nature Conservancy Canada (https://www.natureconservancy.ca/en/what-we-do/resource-centre/featured-species/plants/pitcher-plant.html).