The role of hybridization in generating species- and population-level variation in Sarracenia (Sarraceniaceae)

The North American Pitcher Plants (Sarracenia) have long fascinated naturalists, not only for their carnivorous habit, but also their ability to form countless combinations of hybrids with apparent ease. While their ability to form hybrids has been widely recognized, the role hybridization plays in shaping genetic and morphological variation in natural populations has been virtually ignored. This study examined the extent and effects of hybridization in the genus using both non-coding chloroplast sequences and nuclear microsatellite markers.