Abstract

Hybridization between rare or endangered species poses complicated issues for land managers. Hybridization, and resulting introgression, can blur the boundaries between species and pose challenges for maintaining species identity. However, gene flow into populations of rare or endangered species can increase genetic diversity, may facilitate adaptation to changing environments, and may result in increased persistence of threatened populations. Regardless of whether managers want to prevent or facilitate hybridization, it is important for them to recognize which plants are hybrids. The goal of this research was to develop a quick and reliable method that managers could use to identify hybrid pitcher plants in the field. Morphology of Sarracenia purpurea var. montana Schnell and Determann (mountain purple pitcher plant), S. jonesii Wherry (Jones’ pitcher plant), and their putative hybrids were compared at two sites in Western North Carolina using principal components analysis on eight pitcher measurements and found two major clusters that differed significantly in PC1. One cluster was distinguished by tall, narrow pitchers with hoods angled tightly over pitcher apertures, whereas the other cluster was distinguished by shorter, broader pitchers with hoods angled away from the pitcher aperture. These clusters mostly, but not entirely, corresponded to our a priori identification of individual S. purpurea var. montana and S. jonesii plants. Two plants we identified as putative hybrids were intermediate in their PC1 scores. Although the genetic identity of these plants remains to be confirmed, these morphological measurements provide a promising method of identifying S. purpurea var. montana x S. jonesii hybrids.

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