Downward pointing hairs keep insects from crawling out of the pitchers

Carnivorous plant which grows in acidic peat bogs in our boreal forest. The leaves form tubes (pitchers) which fill with rain water to trap insects. Downward pointing hairs on the inside of the of the pitchers allow insects to enter, but deter them from leaving. The insects which drown in the pitchers are absorbed by the plant to provide nitrogen which are lacking in its low nutrient, acidic bog.

Their flowers are borne singly on long stems. The flowers are 5 cm in diameter, 5 petals and 5 sepals, red outside, and yellowish-green inside. Flowering begins in mid to late June. Pitchers to 11 cm long and 3 cm across.

Height of flower stems I measured to 35 cm.

The above photos were taken June 22nd, acidic bog, boreal forest, central Saskatchewan.