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The Collaborative International Dictionary
California pitcher plant

Pitcher \Pitch"er\, n. [OE. picher, OF. pichier, OHG. pehhar, pehh[=a]ri; prob. of the same origin as E. beaker. Cf. Beaker.]

  1. A wide-mouthed, deep vessel for holding liquids, with a spout or protruding lip and a handle; a water jug or jar with a large ear or handle.

  2. (Bot.) A tubular or cuplike appendage or expansion of the leaves of certain plants.

    American pitcher plants, the species of Sarracenia. See Sarracenia.

    Australian pitcher plant, the Cephalotus follicularis, a low saxifragaceous herb having two kinds of radical leaves, some oblanceolate and entire, others transformed into little ovoid pitchers, longitudinally triple-winged and ciliated, the mouth covered with a lid shaped like a cockleshell.

    California pitcher plant, the Darlingtonia California. See Darlingtonia.

    Pitcher plant, any plant with the whole or a part of the leaves transformed into pitchers or cuplike organs, especially the species of Nepenthes. See Nepenthes.