''Sarracenia psittacina'', also known as the parrot pitcherplant, is a carnivorous plant in the

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

'' Sarracenia''. Like all the ''Sarracenia'', it is native to

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...

, in the

Southeastern United States The Southeastern United States, also known as the American Southeast or simply the Southeast, is a geographical List of regions in the United States, region of the United States located in the eastern portion of the Southern United States and t ...

. ''Sarracenia psittacina'' employs the same trapping mechanism as '' Darlingtonia californica'', using a small entrance in the pitcher mouth, which prey goes through in search of more

nectar Nectar is a viscous, sugar-rich liquid produced by Plant, plants in glands called nectaries, either within the flowers with which it attracts pollination, pollinating animals, or by extrafloral nectaries, which provide a nutrient source to an ...

that was produced by the plant on the rim of the pitcher mouth. The prey is then confused by light shining through what appear to be false exits (or "windows") and crawls toward the brighter area down into the pitcher. Criss-crossed downward-facing hairs densely line the interior of the pitcher, forcing the prey further into the pitcher to an area where digestive enzymes such as

protease A protease (also called a peptidase, proteinase, or proteolytic enzyme) is an enzyme that catalysis, catalyzes proteolysis, breaking down proteins into smaller polypeptides or single amino acids, and spurring the formation of new protein products ...

s are prevalent in the liquid. This species is frequently submerged in its native habitat and will capture water arthropods and tadpoles, for example, while submerged.D'Amato, Peter. 1998. '' The Savage Garden: Cultivating Carnivorous Plants''. Ten Speed Press, Berkeley. Schnell, Donald E. 2002. ''Carnivorous Plants of the United States and Canada'', Second Edition. Timber Press: Portland, Oregon.

Infraspecific taxa

*''Sarracenia psittacina'' f. ''heterophylla'' J. & J.Ainsworth (1996) '' nom.nud.'' *''Sarracenia psittacina'' var. ''minor'' Hook. (1834) Image:Sarracenia psittacina0.jpg, ''Sarracenia psittacina'' flower Image:Sarracenia psittacina2.jpg, ''Sarracenia psittacina'' Image:Sarracenia psittacina1.jpg, ''Sarracenia psittacina'' Image:Parrot pitcherplant - Stierch.jpg

References

psittacina Carnivorous plants of North America Endemic flora of the United States Flora of the Southeastern United States Least concern flora of the United States Plants described in 1803 {{Ericales-stub