Sarraceniaceae (Darlingtonia, Heliamphora, Sarracenia) - the American Pitcher Plants

Three genera make up the family Sarraceniaceae: the monotypic Darlingtonia californica or Cobra Lily of the U.S. Pacific northwest, the table-top mountain dwelling South American genus Heliamphora, and the primarily U.S. eastern seaboard species in the genus Sarracenia. Many of these species have been propagated in vitro for years but with few publications regarding the techniques used. All three genera are easily propagated from fresh seed, essential for Heliamphora.  Darlingtonia and Sarracenia require cold stratification to break seed dormancy, a process that adds approximately 4 weeks to the culture process. In addition to culture from seed, rhizome and meristem culture techniques have been developed, and our lab continues to develop propagation protocols from leaves and flower stalks.

 

Northcutt C, et al. 2012. Germination in vitro, micropropagation, and cryogenic storage for three rare pitcher plants: Sarracenia oreophila (Kearney) Wherry (Federally Endangered), S. leucophylla Raf., and S. purpurea spp. venosa (Raf.) Wherry. HortScience. 47:74-80.

 

Uhnak KS. 2003. Micropropagation of carnivorous plants. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, 217 p.