SPECIAL ISSUE - Aipc

• Sarracenia alata var. ornata S. McPherson & D. E. Schnell, var. nov.
by Stewart McPherson
The varietal epithet is derived from the
Latin ornatus (embellished), with reference
to the ornate venation that dominates the
surface of the pitchers. Extensive, reticulate,
dark red or purple veins are concentrated
on the upper parts of the tubular
portion of the pitcher and often inside
the pitcher opening. The veins run vertically,
but are connected with a network
of smaller secondary branches, in stark
contrast to all other varieties of Sarracenia
alata, wherein any venation present
exhibits a pinstripe pattern. The leaves of
this variety are greenish-yellow, or golden
yellow in strong sunlight, contrasting with
the darkly coloured veins, as well as the
yellowish green lip of the pitchers.
The reticulate venation of S. alata
var. ornata is unusual for S. alata, and
can resemble that of many members of
the S. rubra complex. However, floral
morphology and colour is a reliable diagnostic
characteristic. Within the species,
comparable venation only arises in S. alata
var. rubrioperculata, but in that variety, the
lower surface of the lid is entirely reddishpurple.
Populations of S. alata var. ornata occur
in Mississippi and eastern Louisiana
sporadically; they are generally small and
localised, and the plant is rare overall. It
has been observed often growing sympatrically
with all other varieties of S. alata
except S. alata f. viridescens, and hybrids
with these taxa are common where the
plants coincide.
Description:
McPherson, S., D. E. Schnell (2011). In
Appendix of S. McPherson, D. E. Schnell
(2011), Sarraceniaceae of North America:
743.
32 - AIPC Special Issue n. 4