The most common species is perhaps Sarracenia purpurea, Purple Pitcher Plant, AKA Flytrap. It is found in much of Canada but its range extends only as far south as Georgia. Most other species tend to be found in the deep south especially Florida and southern Louisiana, Georgia and Alabama. Some range as far north as North Carolina.

See also:
Yellow Pitcherplant, Sarracenia flava
Hooded Pitcherplant, Sarracenia minor
Parrot Pitcherplant, Sarracenia psittacina

Lore: Linnaeus may have named this plant for a Dr. Michel Sarrazin a Canadian physician who treated smallpox with the plant in the 1700's. There are several antidotal accounts of doctors and native healers using a root infusion of Sarracenia to cure smallpox which ravaged Native Americans who had no immunity to it when first exposed to it by white settlers. No one was able to establish the validity of this treatment and since smallpox has been practically eliminated world wide since 1978 the point is academic.^{(Erichsen- Brown)}

It seems that the leaves may have been used by natives as drinking goblets and to hold items such as berries when in the woods.

Medical Uses: In addition to smallpox Native Americans and white doctors used a root tea to treat throat and lung problem such as spitting blood. It was given as an aid to childbirth and was considered a stimulant and a diuretic. There appears to be no evidence for any medical powers of the plant beyond that expected from its tannin content.

Similar Species: Other Pitcherplants on this site include:
Yellow Pitcherplant, Sarracenia flava
Hooded Pitcherplant, Sarracenia minor
Green Pitcherplant, Sarracenia oreophila
Parrot Pitcherplant, Sarracenia psittacina

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One of the best general guides to wildflowers of the North Eastern and North Central United States. Newcomb's key is an excellent, simple method for identifying plants. Newcomb has drawings for almost every plant mentioned that are excellent aids to identifying the species. Though only the more common plants are covered this is often the first book I pick up when trying to identify a wildflower.

Wildflo wers of Tennessee the Ohio Valley and the Southern Appalachians

This is perhaps the best of many field guides covering this region. Featuring 446 excellent color photographs (located with the text) and mentioning as similar to those illustrated are another 800 or so species for a total coverage of over 1,200 species. The start of each family section includes line drawings of some of the species showing important features. The text includes the usual description, bloom season, range, habitat and additionally includes information such as medical uses and lore and how the species was named. This is the official field guide of the Tennessee Native Plant Society.