Philip Sheridan1,2 and David Karowe3
The Yellow Pitcher Plant, Sarracenia flava L., is an insectivorous plant restricted to fire maintained wetland ecosystems in southeastern Virginia. Only four natural sites remain in the state totaling less than 100 clumps. Plants from sites located in Dinwiddie, Greensville, Prince George, Sussex counties, and the city of Suffolk were tested for the effects of self-pollination, intra-site outcrossing and inter-site outcrossing on offspring quantity (total seed number and total seed weight) and offspring quality (average seed weight, germination, and growth). Self-pollination resulted in significantly lower offspring quantity and quality. Total seed number and total seed weight for self-pollinated capsules were approximately one-fourth that of outcrossed capsules. Germination, survivorship, and growth over five years were also significantly lower for offspring from self-pollinated capsules. Together, these results suggest strong inbreeding depression in this species. Relative to offspring from intra-site crosses, offspring from inter-site crosses were significantly larger after five years of growth. This suggests that restoration efforts for Virginia S. flava will be most successful when plants from multiple sites are used.1. Meadowview Biological Research Station,
2. Dept. Of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University and
3. Dept. Of Biological Sciences, Western Michigan University.