Order Nepenthales

Order Nepenthales

Members of the order Nepenthales are carnivorous plants which get the nitrogen they need by catching and digesting small creatures, especially insects. Most of the species live in boggy areas where soil nitrates are low. The order has three families with about 180 species. The Nepenthaceae and Sarraceniaceae are "pitcher plants" which trap their prey in passive vase-shaped pitchers and members of the Droseraceae have active moving traps to capture insects. [CH] {EN}