photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Tom Murray | all galleries >> Wildflowers >> Red/Pink Flowers > Purple Pitcherplant - Sarracenia purpurea
previous | next
18-JUN-2016

Purple Pitcherplant - Sarracenia purpurea

Groton, Ma.

At least two insects also use the pitchers as a breeding location. A community of microorganisms eventually develops in the water at the base of the pitchers. These microorganisms live on the nutrients of the decaying insects, and may actually increase the nutrients available to the plant by further digesting its prey. The microorganisms are themselves prey to at least two species of carnivorous insects – the larvae of a mosquito and the larvae of a midge – which complete their life cycles in the pitchers. For some reason, the digestive enzymes secreted by the plant affect neither species.
(quoted from USDA site)

Canon EOS 5D Mark II
1/200s f/8.0 at 100.0mm iso100 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
comment | share
Don19-Jun-2016 21:42
What strange-looking flowers!