SafePlants

Cobra Lily

The Cobra Lily, a captivating carnivorous plant, is known for its unique appearance and intriguing trapping mechanisms. This page provides information about this fascinating plant, focusing on its characteristics, habitat, and more.

Scientific Name and Common Names

• Scientific Name: Darlingtonia californica
• Common Names: Cobra Lily, California Pitcher Plant, Cobra Plant

Considerations for Pets

• The plant is a pitcher plant, which could attract curious pets.
• The plant has a structure that resembles a cobra, which could trigger a reaction in some animals.

Considerations for Children

• The plant is a pitcher plant, which could attract curious children.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Genus: Darlingtonia (The genus contains only one species)
• Family: Not explicitly mentioned in text.

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to Northern California and Southern Oregon.
• Found in nutrient-poor acidic bogs and seepage slopes.
• Can thrive in ultramafic soils (basic soils).
• Grows in mountain swamps and marshy areas.

Morphological Characteristics

• Gets its name from its appearance, resembling a rearing cobra.
• Features tubular leaves that resemble a cobra's hood.
• Has a forked leaf (yellow to purplish-green) that resembles a snake's tongue.
• Younger plants tend to have prostrate leaves.

Ecological Role

• Carnivorous plant: traps and digests insects for nutrients.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Uses clever strategies for attracting and trapping insects.

Quirky Facts

• The Cobra Lily is described as the North American west coast's version of the Sarracenia species pitcher plants.
• The plant has a reputation for being difficult to grow.