The uppermost part of the leaf is flared into a lid (the operculum), which prevents excess rain from entering the pitcher and diluting the digestive secretions within.

The opening of the pitcher tube is retroflexed into a 'nectar roll' or peristome, whose surface is studded with nectar-secreting glands.

Insects losing their footing on this surface plummet to the bottom of the tube, where a combination of digestive fluid, wetting agents and inward-pointing hairs prevent their escape.

Some large insects (such as wasps) have been reported to escape from the pitchers on occasion, by chewing their way out through the wall of the tube.

Sarracenia alabamensis begins spring by sending up crimson flowers, often several to a growth point.

Because of these there are major restrictions on selling plants across state lines in the USA, and trading internationally.

wherryi is less threatened due to its wider distribution but is still listed on Appendix II of CITES.

[4] They published the new species in 1975, but neglected to indicate a holotype and included specimens in the type collection that were gathered on different days.

[6] In 1977 Donald E. Schnell disagreed with species rank given to S. alabamensis and reduced it to a subspecies of S. rubra, moving subsp.