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Quote (Andenes @ Mar. 22 2003,5:27)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">How big can a sarr. purpurea get?
And how big do you guys (pft.com) sell them?[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Schnell says (I'm speaking from memory now, don't get mad if this is wrong) that the pitchers on the S. purpurea ssp venosa can get over 8 inches long. Mine has about 4 inch pitchers, but it's new.
Over 8 inches is pretty impressive, given their width--these are pretty massive leaves that hold a substantial amount of water. Since they grow in a rosette, the plant is going to look big even with smaller pitchers. The flowers are nice, too, if not fragrant.
I've got four different sarrs going right now, and the purpurea is by far the most durable. It came out of a terrarium, and shows no sign of wear and tear despite the drop in humidity and massive increase in sunlight--not to mention the repotting. The others are still catching their breath.
Another neat feature is that the pitchers are wide enough to look into--you can watch the plant catch and eat its meals, if you are into that sort of thing. It's the best for a class, too, if you want to teach, as the purpurea pitcher, when bisected, most clearly demonstrates the "zones" of a pitcher leaf.
Get the purpurea venosa. Find a cool place for it to rest a couple of months in the winter and you are set.
Steve