Swamp habitats — from coastal marshes to inland peatlands — host unusual plant species adapted to saturated soils and seasonal flooding. These ecosystems are under pressure from drainage, development and invasive species, making local conservation priorities urgent for both biodiversity and water quality.
There are 4 endangered swamp plants, ranging from the Green pitcher plant to the Waterwheel plant. For each species you’ll find below Scientific name,Conservation status,Range & primary threats so you can quickly compare where they occur and what imperils them — you’ll find those details below.
How can I help protect endangered swamp plants near me?
Support protection by preserving or restoring wetland hydrology (avoid drainage, advocate for buffers), reporting rare plant sightings to local conservation groups or citizen science platforms, and choosing native, non-invasive plants for nearby gardens; donations or volunteering with local land trusts and wetland restoration projects also have direct impact.
How are conservation statuses for these swamp plants determined?
Statuses come from assessments that track population trends, range size, and threats such as habitat loss or pollution; organizations like IUCN and regional agencies compile field surveys, historical records, and threat analyses to assign categories and guide recovery actions.
Endangered Swamp Plants
| Common name | Scientific name | Conservation status | Range & primary threats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterwheel plant | Aldrovanda vesiculosa | IUCN: Critically Endangered | Europe, Asia, Australia; drainage, eutrophication, land-use change |
| Green pitcher plant | Sarracenia oreophila | US: Endangered (ESA) | Southeastern USA; drainage, fire suppression, collection |
| Jones’ pitcher-plant | Sarracenia jonesii | US: Endangered (ESA) | Carolinas, USA; drainage, development, fire suppression, poaching |
| Malinverno quillwort | Isoetes malinverniana | IUCN: Critically Endangered | Northern Italy; pond drainage, groundwater changes, eutrophication |
Images and Descriptions
Waterwheel plant
A free-floating carnivorous plant with delicate whorled leaves bearing tiny bladder traps. It inhabits shallow, nutrient-poor peat pools and seasonal swamp basins. Fragmented by drainage and pollution, surviving populations are targets for habitat protection, water-quality control and reintroduction projects.
Green pitcher plant
A stout pitcher plant with green tubular traps often veined with red; flowers are nodding and pale. It grows in seepage bogs and wet pine savannas. Small, scattered populations decline from drainage, altered fire regimes and illegal collection; recovery emphasizes habitat management.
Jones’ pitcher-plant
Distinctive red-flushed tubular pitchers with narrow lids; produces late-spring flowers. Restricted to acid seepage bogs and pocosins, it faces habitat loss from development, drainage and fire suppression. Conservation focuses on land protection, controlled burns and propagation to bolster tiny populations.
Malinverno quillwort
A small, submerged quillwort with narrow, grass-like leaves in shallow peat pools and seasonally flooded hollows. Endemic to northern Italy and extremely localised; threatened by pond drainage, lowered groundwater and nutrient pollution. Conservation needs hydrological protection and ex-situ cultivation.
