Family: Nepenthaceae
Common Name: Tropical Pitcher Plant

This genus consists of around 70 species of unusual, insectivorous plants, occurring naturally in moist habitats from India through to northern Australia. Most are scrambling plants, climbing by means of tendrils to reach up to 5 m (16 ft) with support, and becoming woody with age. The inflorescence is fairly insignificant. The main feature of the plants is the pendulous, insect-trapping pitcher, formed from adapted leaves. Each pitcher has a cap or lid which prevents water entering the container. Insects attracted by nectar enter the pitcher and cannot escape because of the slippery, waxy, inner surface. They are also hampered by the lid. The insects' bodies break down and are absorbed into the plant as food. These plants can be grown in tropical gardens as curiosities and make unusual container plants for greenhouses. Many hybrids between species have been developed.

Species

N. ampullaria is a scrambling or prostrate plant, with fringed, greenish pitchers.

N. x atrosanguinea produces cylindrical, fringed pitchers in a reddish purple colour with yellowish markings.

N. x balfouriana, from Indonesia, has long, fringed, cylindrical pitchers in pale green, sometimes marked with purple or rust. It can grow up to 6 m (20 ft).

N. mirabilis, from Southeast Asia, southern China and Australia, grows between 2 and 10 m (6-33 ft), with large leaves. The attractive pitchers are reddish green in colour.

N. rafflesiana is a straggling climber, with dark green leaves and long, pale green pitchers mottled in dark brown to purple.

N. superba has very large, long pitchers in green, with purple blotches around the lip.

Cultivation

Most of these plants prefer very warm, humid conditions with temperatures from 21°C (70°F) upwards. A few species like humid conditions with lower temperatures. They need perfect drainage and constant moisture, but need to be kept relatively dry in winter. Nepenthes can be grown in slatted, wooden orchid baskets, in live sphagnum moss, or in a mix of chipped bark, perlite and coir. Propagate from cuttings of firm tip growth taken in early spring and place in a coarse orchid compost in a warm greenhouse, where they should take root in four to six weeks. Pot into small pots of sphagnum moss. They can also be raised from seed sown in spring, but this is difficult. A liquid fertilizer may be used once the plant is established. The tiny seedlings carry a miniature pitcher on each leaf.

Climate

Tropical only.