Guest Author - Diana Pederson

God must have been laughing when he created the carnivorous plants. Although I don’t know when man first discovered these plants growing in the wetlands, I do know that they fascinate everyone that finds them. It took hundreds if not thousands of years before man realized that these plants actually gained some benefit from the insects that fell into their water-filled leaves (pitchers) or other forms of traps. The book below will guide you into a thorough understanding of these plants and where they grow.

Stewart McPherson. Pitcher Plants of the Americas. McDonald & Woodward Publishing Company. 2006

Pitcher plants have modified leaves that collect water and release digestive enzymes into that water. They are able to digest the many insects and occasional frog, mouse and other critters that drown in those pitchers for their nutritional needs. This enables pitcher plants to live where few other plants can survive.

McPherson begins the book with his beliefs in how carnivorous plants, particularly the pitcher plants, evolved. Although I can’t confirm or disprove his theory, I am impressed by the clarity of his explanations for his beliefs. Here is just an example of his writing style and clarity:

… However, I believe that many inconspicuous morphological traits of Heliamphora challenge this traditional interpretation and imply, while Heliamphora is indeed ancient, it is nevertheless the most highly evolved and specialized of all the Sarraceniaceae. Three anatomical characteristics of Heliamphora support this position.

Firstly, despite an apparent simplistic leaf shape, the complexity of Heliamphora traps is greater than that of Darlingtonia and Sarracenia and, indeed, possibly all other genera of pitcher plants. One characteristic in particular—the unique drainage mechanism of Heliamphora leaves—demonstrates this point well. … [Page 26]

Following his discussion of the relationship between the species, he dedicates a chapter to each genera: Brocchinia, Catopsis, Darlingtonia, Heliamphora, and Sarracenia. McPherson provides descriptions of each species without resorting to typical scientific jargon. He also describes and discusses various aspects of the specialized habitats where the plant grows. He includes gorgeous photographs of most species in their natural habitat and provides maps showing where they grow.

McPherson concludes this book with a thorough discussion of the conservation issues surrounding these plants. This is most important because wetlands are being drained to meet the land needs of man without fully understanding the importance of those wetlands.

STRONG POINTS

It is an unusual writer that has been able to travel to the oftentimes remote areas that these specialized plants grow in. Furthermore, it is rare for someone to have the writing ability to produce a book suitable for everyone from the hobbyist gardener to the horticulturist to the botanist. Stewart McPherson has shown his ability to accomplish this difficult task.

Professional botanists will have no problems understanding this book. Most hobby gardeners or or horticulturists will easily understand the information presented in this book. I particularly enjoyed his descriptions of their natural habitats and even the difficulty of getting there.

WEAK POINTS

There are two weaknesses in this book. First, providing information on how to grow these plants would have benefited both the hobbyist and the horticulturist. As it is, you will need another book to learn how to grow these plants. Second, including both metric and imperial units of measurement rather than supplying the conversion table in an appendix at the end of the book would make it easier for everyone since this book is geared towards a world-wide market.

RECOMMENDATION

Stewart McPherson began writing this book when he was only 16 and had it published at age 23. I am completely awed that such a young man is already writing books that will be read over and over again by those who love carnivorous plants.

If you have an interest in these plants, or grow them as a hobby, or produce them for the mass-market, you need this book. I believe that everyone acquiring this book will treasure it for many years into the future. The book is available from several sources.

You can find it at the publishers website, McDonald and Woodward Publishing for a 30% discount through March 31, 2007. European customers can purchase it through McPherson’s personal website, Redfern Natural History. It is also available at Amazon.com by following the link below.