Darlingtonia californica

Darlingtonia californica has several common names, including the California pitcher plant, cobra lily, and cobra plant. It is a member of the Sarracenia family, along with other types of North American pitcher plants. As the common names suggest, the distinctive feature of Darlingtonia californica is the appearance of its pitchers: a translucent hood over the top resembles a cobra’s head, and the forked leaf is like its tongue. Hoods may be red, green, or a combination of both colors. A fully-grown Darlingtonia californica can grow up to three feet tall.

This plant is native to the northwestern part of the United States, specifically the cold water bogs of coastal Oregon and northern California. Like other carnivorous plants, Darlingtonia californica grows in a nutrient poor environment and feeds on animals to provide vital nutrients (particularly nitrogen) that would not otherwise be available.

The tip of the hood of the pitcher has a protrusion that secretes an appealing honey-like nectar. Insects enter and have their fill, but leaving proves more difficult. Since the top of the hood has many translucent spots, insects mistake these for an exit point and try to fly up and out of the pitcher. Instead of escaping, they hit the hood and fall down into the pitcher. Once inside, they struggle to climb back up the slippery walls which are also covered with downward-pointing hairs. Given all these obstacles, the ensnared insects are generally unable to escape. The mechanism to capture insects in the pitchers is simple but remarkably effective, and pitchers are often full of partially digested insects.

While other pitcher plants collect rainwater in their pitchers, Darlingtonia californica pitchers have hoods that cover their openings. The liquid that fills the pitchers is produced by the plant itself from water absorbed by the roots.

Another unique feature of Darlingtonia californica is the symbiotic relationship it has with the bacteria and protozoa present inside the digestive liquid in its pitchers. There is a collection of microbes inside each pitcher that performs much of the hard work of digesting the prey that are captured. This is obviously very beneficial for the plant, as it does not need to expend the energy to break down the prey it has captured. At the same time, the microbes benefit from a steady supply of insects and a safe environment.

For those hoping to keep Darlingtonia californica as a houseplant, they will need to ensure a very particular environment for this picky plant to thrive. Since it grows in cool to cold water, the roots should be kept cool and temperatures should never get too high. This plant will do best with high humidity in a sunny or partly shady location.

This plant naturally goes dormant in the winter as temperatures cool, and will stop growing from three to five months until they reemerge and flower in spring. And speaking of flowers, scientists still have not clearly identified how Darlingtonia californica is pollinated. The shape of the flowers suggest a specialized insect pollinator, but this has yet to be confirmed.