Phil Sheridan,  Meadowview Biological Research Station and Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University.
 

The yellow pitcher plant is a carnivorous plant restricted to fire maintained wetland ecosystems in Virginia.  Due to land use changes and urban development this species has suffered significant population declines resulting in only four native populations remaining totaling less than 100 plants. Through a careful process of scientific research an effort to return the yellow pitcher plant to its historic range in Virginia is now being undertaken.  This process includes: continued field research for new populations; propagation of extant and extirpated colonies; ecological and reproductive biology studies; reintroduction to the wild of both site-faithful and mixed populations; education of the general public about the importance of these plants and their environment; active programs with local schools involving them in various scientific aspects and on-site reintroductions; a registry with state agencies of all introduced sites, material planted, and origin of stock.  A population has now been started in five of the eight historic counties for this species.  State highway rights-of-way and wetland mitigation projects have been used for half the reintroductions with several of the sites in their third successful year of reproduction.
 

Prince George County: Sarracenia flava at Fort Lee mitigation site, May 2001. These are seed raised plants collected from Shands Bog, Dinwiddie County, in 1987. Dinwiddie County: Introduced native Virginia Dinwidie County Sarracenia flava in late successional phase pond pine, Pinus serotina, woods at Richard Bland College, Dinwiddie County, Virginia, June 2001.  Artificial gaps were created in sphagnous seeps in pine woods to establish Sarracenia. Sarracenia flava and S. purpurea at Richard Bland, May 2001. Greensville County: Introduced Sarracenia flava at Otterdam Swamp wetland                          mitigation site, June 2001. This site contains mixed provenance of               native Virginia S. flava. Both Meadowview Biological Research Station and students from Potomac Elementary School participated in the reintroduction under the Toyota Tapestry Grant in partnership with VDOT. Pontederia cordata in bloom at Otteredam Swamp pond edge. Scutellaria integrifolia in bloom in S. flava reintroduction area. Isle of Wight County: Powerline in Isle of Wight County, VA awaits reintroduction of  Sarracenia flava. Fred Weaver prepares site for pitcher plant reintroduction by                    blading-out competitors on seepage slope. Potomac Elementary School Students reintroduce S.  flava to Isle of Wight County, VA in May 2001.  Project was successfully completed under the Dominion Virginia Power Partnership grant in collaboration with Meadowview Biological Research Station and the King George County Master Gardener Program. Potomac Elementary School Students reintroduce S. flava to Isle of Wight County, VA in May 2001.  Project was successfully completed under the Dominion Virginia Power Partnership grant in collaboration with Meadowview Biological Research Station and the King George County Master Gardener Program.