Botanical history Sarracenia

first illustration of sarracenia l obel s stirpium adversaria nova, 1576

sarracenia known europeans 16th century, within century of christopher columbus discovery of new world. l obel included illustration of s. minor in stirpium adversaria nova in 1576. first description , plate of sarracenia show in botanical literature published carolus clusius, received partial dried specimen of later determined s. purpurea subsp. purpurea, publishing under name limonium peregrinum. exact origins of specimen remains unknown, few explorers known have collected plant specimens range of subspecies before time. cheek , young suggest source cartier s expeditions quebec between 1534 , 1541. fragile flowerless specimen made way clusius 60 years later enough excite interest, not enough him place among related plants; closest guess wholly unrelated sea lavender genus.

the name sarracenia first employed michel sarrazin, father of canadian botany in late 17th century sent live specimens of s. purpurea parisian botanist joseph pitton de tournefort, thereupon described species. linnaeus adopted name when published species plantarum (1753), using 2 known species @ time: s. purpurea , s. flava. first successful flowering in culture occurred in 1773. in 1793 william bartram noted in book travels in southeast u.s. numerous insects caught in pitchers of these plants, doubted benefit derived them. not until 1887 research dr. joseph h. mellichamp proved carnivorous nature of genus. finding supported study j.s. hepburn, e.q. st. john , f.m. jones in 1920. extended field surveys , laboratory studies dr. edgar wherry in 1930s increased knowledge of genus, has further been extended more recent works of dr. c. ritchie bell (1949–52), dr. donald e. schnell (1970–2002) , mr. frederick w. case (1970s , treatment in flora of north america published in 2008).