Commemorating Dr M. Sarrazin de l’Etang (1659–1734), physician of Quebec, who sent plants of S. purpurea to the botanist J.P. de Tournefort (1656–1708).

Herbaceous perennials with a thick horizontal rhizome bearing apical clusters of mostly pitcher-like leaves. Leaf pitchers with either lids or hoods and up to 1 m or more long, often with a thickened mouth margin; variously marked with red or brown, especially on the veins. Flowers rising above the pitchers, nodding. Calyx of (4-)5 sepals with 3-4 bracts below. Petals 5, yellow to red and eventually shed; stamens numerous. Ovary superior with 5 chambers, the style expanded into an umbrella-shaped structure with 5 ribs. Fruit a rough capsule.

Hybridisation is common both in nature and horticulture. Plants in cultivation may be induced to flower early.

Listed and available hybrids (these will show a mix of the parental characters): Sarracenia ×ahlesii (S. alata × S. rubra), S. ×harperi (S. flava × S. minor), S. ×areolata (S. alata × S. leucophylla), S. ×mitchelliana (S. leucophylla × S. purpurea), S. ×catesbaei (S. flava × S. purpurea), S. ×moorei (S. flava × S. leucophylla), S. ×chelsoni (S. purpurea × S. rubra), S. ×popei (S. flava × S. rubra), S. ×courtii (S. psittacina × S. purpurea), S. ×readii (S. leucophylla × S. rubra), S. ×excellens (S. leucophylla × S. minor), S. ×rehderi (S. minor × S. rubra), S. ×exornata (S. alata × S. purpurea), S. ×swaniana (S. minor × S. purpurea), S. ×formosa (S. minor × S. psittacina), S. ×wrigleyana (S. leucophylla × S. psittacina), S. ×gilpini (S. psittacina × S. rubra).

Seed, division or tissue culture.

Pitcher hoods and lids without a forked appendage; style umbrella-like.

8 species from swamplands of E North America

The key is to species only. Note that many cultivated plants are hybrids and most of the species have a range of varieties and forms available.

Source: Clayton, C.; Spencer, R. (1997). Sarraceniaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 2. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 1. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.