Also I have seen various photos of S.minor.In some photographs the
hood projects at 90 degrees to the pitcher (Adrian slacks Carnivourous
plants book p56) in others it comes down over the mouth of the pitcher
(Gordon Cheers p116). I have a S.Minor and a S.Minor Okeefenokkee.
Both these plants have a hood that extends down over the mouth. Has
anyone any comments?
I believe S. minor has been observed to mainly catch ants, which can
literally fill up its pitcher. perhaps that is all it is modified to catch.
The ants can go in a small crevice (as in S. psittacina, same deal), and
are attracted by the light windows. The Okefenokee form of Minoir is just a
larger version,and I have observed the well-known phenomenon of it growing
on floating islands of sphagnum in deep water-filled ditches, how do the
ants get there then. I have also observed that the ditches can dry up in
summer when the pitchers are large, then the ants can come. Maybe the ants
are even floating with the pitchers, and the ones they lose to the pitchers
are part of the cost of living with it. watch and see if butterflies come
to your S. minors in August-they can feed by sticking their tongues in the
crevice between hood and rim without being caught (nectar robbing?).
KEEP THINKING.
Larry Mellichamp