Outdoor writer Kara Swarthout, a state forest ranger, recently discovered flowering pitcher plants in Pennsylvania’s state forest lands—an exciting find for plant enthusiasts.
Invited to see these seldom-seen carnivorous plants, the author embarked on a memorable trip through muddy, waterlogged terrain to witness their unique blooms.
The pitcher plant thrives in nutrient-poor bogs and swamps by trapping insects inside its hollow, pitcher-shaped leaves. A sweet nectar lures insects, which then slip inside where downward-pointing hairs and digestive enzymes break them down to supplement the plant’s nutrition.
Alongside pitcher plants, Pennsylvania hosts two other carnivorous species: sundews and bladderworts. Sundews have sticky, dew-covered tentacles that trap and digest insects, while bladderworts use underwater bladders to capture prey.
This rare glimpse of flowering pitcher plants in their natural habitat, despite the challenging hike and muddy conditions, highlighted the fascinating adaptations of these extraordinary plants and the beauty of Pennsylvania’s diverse flora.
