TOTAL CARBOHYDRATES IN NECTAR OF SARRACENIA-PURPUREA L (NORTHERN PITCHER PLANT)

Sarracenia purpurea L. (northern pitcher plant) attracts insect prey b y manufacturing nectar on pitchers. We adapted a technique using filte r paper wicks to sample nectar for analysis of total carbohydrates to address two questions. First, does total carbohydrate in nectar vary o n different parts of the pitcher? Second, does nectar vary in total ca rbohydrate among pitchers of different age? The mouth of the pitcher p roduced measurable amounts of total carbohydrates, whereas the hood an d external wing of the pitcher did not. Young pitchers produced measur able amounts of total carbohydrates, but older pitchers did not. Use o f filter paper wicks is a valuable technique for study of pitcher plan t nectar.