Crimson Pitcher Plant (bloom)

The 2--3 inch flowers droop from an erect scape and are composed of 5 maroon petals and sepals. Flowers are produced early in spring, with or slightly ahead of the first pitchers. They are held singly on long stems, generally well above the pitcher traps to avoid the trapping of potential pollinators. Flowers generally last about two weeks. At the end of the flowering period, the petals drop and the ovary, if pollinated, begins to swell. The seed forms in five lobes, with one lobe producing significantly smaller numbers of seeds than the other lobes. Seed takes five months to mature, at which point the seed pod turns brown and splits open, scattering seed.