Sarraceniaceae

Sarraceniaceae [‚sar·ə‚sē·nē′ās·ē‚ē]

(botany)

A small family of dicotyledonous plants in the order Sarraceniales in which leaves are modified to form pitchers, placentation is axile, and flowers are perfect with distinct filaments.

---

Sarraceniaceae 

a family of dicotyledonous plants including insectivorous perennial herbs with spreading rhizomes and rosettes of urceolate or tubular leaves, which entrap insects and other small animals. The side of the leaf facing the stem has a winglike process; on the opposite side there is a lid in the form of a little roof or cowl that protects the opening from rain. The leaves are often brightly colored and have glandules that discharge a nectar that attracts insects. Within the leaves the insects decompose in the fluid, which contain digestive enzymes. The large flowers are solitary or in racemes. There usually are five sepals and five petals, and there are many stamens. The pistil has a three- to five-celled ovary. The fruit is a capsule that dehisces along its valves.

There are about 17 species, belonging to the genera Sarracenia, Darlingtonia, and Heliamphora. The plants are distributed mainly in damp forests and marshes of North America. Six species of Heliamphora grow in the northern part of South America.

S. S. MORSHCHIKHINA