Tropical Pitcher

Most species of Nepenthes are tall creepers – that is 10-15meters, with a shallow root system. From the stem you will often see sword like leaves growing with a tendril (used for climbing) protruding from the tip of the leaf. At the end of the tendril, the pitcher forms a small bulb which then expands to form a cup. The cups contain a watery fluid that is produced by the plant which it uses to drown and digest the insects.

The lower part of the cup contains glands that absorb and distribute nutrients to the plant. Most of these plants are small and tend to trap only insects, but some larger species, such as the Nepenthes Rafflesiana and Rajah, have been documented to catch small mammals like shrews though mammals are not a preferred catch for Nepenthes.

There are about 130 species that are wide spread around the world and can be found in Borneo, Malaysia, Madagascar, Indonesia, Philippines, China, Seychelles, India, Sumatra and Australia.