Family Nepenthaceae

Family Nepenthaceae

Members of the Nepenthaceae are East Indian pitcher plants some of which have traps that are big enough to catch small rodents. There is one genus in this family (Nepenthes) and its species are found in the rain forests of Borneo and surrounding areas of the Philippines and Northern Australia. They are woody climbing plants with tendrils that end in upright pitchers. Insects and small animals are attracted to nectar on the underside of the lid of the trap and as the rim is slippery, they fall inside and are engulfed by digestive juices at the bottom of the pitcher. [CH] {EN}