There are quite a few species of pitcher plants found
in Bako National Park and other parts of Sarawak. These are of the species Nepenthes albomarginata.
An ant crawling over the edge of the lid (operculum) |
It s a climbing plant with the stem reaching upto 4
metres, The pitcher itself can be upto 15 cm long and 5 mm in diameter, as you
can see from the size compared to the small ant crawling on it. It depends on
termites for it food and is one of the few carnivorous plants in existence.
The white ring below the opening (peristome), which is what termites come to feed on |
Contrary to what I used to think, it does not trap the insects, but rather
relies on them falling into the pitcher. The termites graze on the rim and as
they do some will fall into the pitcher. The rim of white trichomes just below
the opening (peristome), is a distinguishing feature of this species.
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