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| This is one of my favorite spots in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. I was there about a week ago. See the small sandy yellow beaches on the far shore? It's just the kind of place that some of the area's special plants grow. And just in time for spring... |
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| New pitchers on the famous purple pitcher plants! |
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| The new one is bright red. They persist through winter sometimes; the white papery one on the left is last year's. Click to enlarge. |
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| Each pitcher is a modified leaf. They form tubular cups that fill with rainwater.. |
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| See the spiky hairs on the big hood above the open mouth of the one on the riight, rear? They face down and direct insects downward toward the water. The lip on the edge is waxy and slick. Insects fall in, drown, and their nutrients are absorbed by the plant. |
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| It's a uniquely Pine Barrens sign of spring. |
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