Post by Acerno on Jun 19, 2018 10:32:18 GMT -5
In the mid 1930’s, the American Museum of Natural History commissioned artist to paint dioramas for the new Hall of North American Mammals scheduled to open in the 1940’s. As part of the American Mink exhibit, an artist was sent to the New Jersey Pine Barrens to paint a scene typical of where this animal was found. Here is the diorama of such a place in the New Jersey Pine Barrens.
An American Mink (Neovison vison) searches for food among grass hummocks while a Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) flies overhead. Purple Pitches plants (Sarracenia purpurea sp.) are seen growing on either side of the foraging Mink as an Atlantic White Cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides) provides cover to both.
A close-up of the Purple Pitcher plant reveals a Pine Barrens Tree Frog (Hyla andersonii) hiding within the pitchers and hopefully avoiding the Mink as a Flesh Fly (Sarcophaga sp.) walks precariously on the collar of the Pitcher Plant.
I recently visited in April the location where this diorama was painted 80+ years ago. Much of course has change but the plants and animals still survive.
The Purple Pitcher plants growing in the open have a rich, red color even on the 2017 pitchers that survived the winter.
These were growing on a mat of Sphagnum mosses about 15 feet from the wet, open area and underneath Atlantic White Cedars.
Many of the plants are obscured by brush and grasses thus never developing red coloration.
It is possible to see a variation in the size and length of many Pitcher Plants which may indicate an integration of the subspecies purpurea and venosa.
Lastly, Drosera intermedia was just commencing to emerge from dormancy. I did not see D. rotundifolia or filiformis emerging but since it is such a large area it is possible that they were doing so somewhere else.
I will visit this area in late Summer and post an update to these and other plants. Enjoy!