In this article we will discuss about:- 1. Characters of Sarraceniaceae 2. Distribution of Sarraceniaceae 3. Economic Importance 4. Affinities.
Characters of Sarraceniaceae:
Plants herb, perennial; basal rosettes of tubular leaves; persistent, often coloured sepals; numerous stamens and often umbrella-like style apex.
A. Vegetative characters:
Habit:
Perennial herbs of morshy places.
Root:
Tap.
Leaf:
Pitcher like radical leaves meant for catching insect preys; leaves rosulate, tubular often alate, usually will small terminal lamina, the tube often retrorsely hairy within.
Morphology of pitcher:
The foliage leaves (all) are modified into insect catching trap, a conical or tubular structure – so called pitcher.
In Sarracenia the tubular portion of the pitcher represents the petiole, the lid or operculum is the lamina or blade. Baillon, on the other hand, consider that the tubular pitcher or the acidium is the real lamina or blade which is folded or rolled inward forming the trap; the lid or operculum is the apical or marginal outgrowth of the leaf blade. Baillon view has been accepted by Troll.
The lid or operculam is often brightly coloured and contains nectar secreting glands; its upper surface being covered by downwardly curved stiff hairs; the conducting zone or region to the tube has a velvety smooth slippery surface and is a small portion of the entire pitcher and is made up of epidermal cells with projections; next comes the cupular zone of the pitcher which is beset with glands; the last absorptive zone of the pitcher comprises a small portion and is covered with inwardly directed hairs which prevent the trapped prey from escaping; here no glands are present.
In Darlingtonia the pitecher is very long, about a meter in length sometimes, on the adaxial side there are winged expansions the lid or operculum biforked like a fish tail. Large preys like small snakes, lizards , frogs are occasionally found caught within the large pitcher. The basal interior of the pitcher is filled with fluid rich in proteolytic enzymes.
B. Floral characters:
Inflorescence:
Central scape bears a single terminal flower-solitary or a few in a loss racemose.
Flower:
Large, actionomorphic, hermaphradite, hypogynous, more or less spirocyclic with considerable variation in number of parts.
Calyx:
sepals 5, rarely more 8-9, polysepalous, imbricate, persistent; often coloured and showy.
Corolla:
Petals 5 or absent, distinct, alternate with sepals.
Andoceium:
stamens numerous, free, bithecous, dehiscing longitudinally.
Gynoecium:
Carpels 3-5, syncarpous, superior; 3-5 locular, axile placentation, ovules numerous on each placenta; style 1 and apically briefly lobed or the apex much expanded and peltate like umbrella with as many lobes as carpels and each lobe tip stigmatic beneath; ovule anatropous.
Fruit:
Loculicidal capsule.
Seed:
Minute with copious, fleshy endosperm, testa membranous and winged, small embryo.
Pollination:
Entomophilous.
Floral formula:
Distribution of Sarraceniaceae:
The family Sarraceniaceae (according to Willis) comprises of 3 genesa and 9 species. According to Rendle and Macfarlane genera are 3 and 12 species and according to Lawrence 3 genera and 14 species, of which 9 spp. belong to Sarracenia.
Economic Importance of Sarraceniaceae:
The Sarraceniaceae are of no significant economic importance. Several species of Sarracenia are listed in the trade. Darlingtonia is offered as a novelty, but is of difficult culture. The plants of family are of special interest because of their insectivorous character.
Affinities of Sarraceniaceae:
Sarraceniaceae bears affinity with Papaveraeae, its origin may be traced from Ranales, the fact has been established on the basis of somewhat spirocyclic flower, numerous stamens and small embryo.
Common plants of the family:
1. Darlingtonia – bears about a meter long pitcher.
2. Heliamphora
3. Sarracenia – Its style is expanded above into an unbrella like membranous structure covering the androecium.