What is the common name for plants in the genus Sarracenia?

The common name for plants in the genus Sarracenia is American pitcher plants. They are carnivorous plants native mainly to the eastern and southeastern United States, with some range extending into Canada and Texas.

Sarracenia leaves are modified into upright, hollow pitchers. Nectar, color, and scent attract insects to the rim; slippery surfaces and downward-pointing hairs then make escape difficult. The trapped prey is broken down by digestive enzymes and microbial activity inside the pitcher.

The genus is also commonly called North American pitcher plants or trumpet pitchers, referring to the tall, trumpet-shaped leaves of many species. These names distinguish Sarracenia from Old World pitcher plants in the genus Nepenthes and from South American sun pitchers in the genus Heliamphora.

The name Sarracenia honors Michel Sarrazin, a French-Canadian physician and botanist who sent specimens of the purple pitcher plant to Europe in the late 17th century.