Pitcher plant (Nepenthes ephippiata)

Description

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Pitcher plant fact file

• Description
• Biology
• Range
• Habitat
• Status
• Threats
• Conservation
• Find out more
• Glossary
• References
• Print factsheet

Pitcher plant description

This spectacular carnivorous plant belongs to the impressive family of tropical Asian pitcher plants (Nepenthes species). Nepenthes ephippiata is a vine, which climbs to a height of about six metres, and has modified pitcher-shaped leaves, which hang from coiled tendrils ⁽⁴⁾. The green and red cylindrical pitchers of Nepenthes ephippiata are very distinctive,with flattened leaf bases ^{(2) (5)}. The pitchers contain an acidic fluid, secreted by the many glands which cover the inside surface of the pitcher, into which insects and other invertebrates fall ⁽²⁾. Nepenthes species usually have a ridge of hardened tissue lining the mouth of the pitcher, the peristome, bearing downward pointing teeth, also preventing insects from escaping. However, the peristome is very poorly developed in Nepenthes ephippiata ⁽²⁾. A lid overhangs the mouth of the pitcher with many bristles on the underside, which prevents rain water from diluting the pitcher fluid ⁽²⁾.

Size

Height: up to 6 m ⁽²⁾

Pitcher height: up to 15 cm ⁽²⁾

Pitcher width: 8 cm ⁽²⁾

Pitcher plant biology

Pitcher plants are dioecious, meaning that male and female flowers grow on separate plants ⁽⁴⁾, and only begin to flower once the upper pitchers are produced ⁽⁵⁾. The flowers produce large amounts of nectar during the early evening and night, which evaporates by morning. This nectar attracts flies during the early evening and moths at night to aid pollination. Once fertilised, a fruit usually takes about three months to develop and ripen. The fruits of Nepenthes species produce between 100 and 500 very light, winged seeds, which can measure up to 30 millimetres long, and are thought to be dispersed by the wind ^{(2) (6)}. Despite enormous numbers of seeds being produced, only a few manage to germinate and only a fraction of those survive to maturity ⁽²⁾.

Carnivorous pitcher plants are adapted to grow in soils low in nutrients. Although the plants do gain some nutrition through the soil, and energy through photosynthesis, they supplement this with a diet of invertebrates, usually consisting of ants, cockroaches, centipedes, flies and beetles ⁽⁴⁾. Insects are attracted to the pitchers by their bright colours and nectar, which is secreted by glands situated on the lid and the peristome of the pitcher. The insects fall into the acidic fluid at the base of the pitcher and are unable to escape. Digestive enzymes are then released to break down the drowned prey ⁽⁴⁾.

Despite the hostile environment of the pitchers, they can be home to number of animals. The red crab spider (Misumenops nepenthicola) inhabits pitcher plants in Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. This spider ambushes insects that crawl into the pitcher and preys upon other insects, such as mosquitoes, as they emerge from larvae that live in the pitcher fluid ⁽²⁾.

Pitcher plant range

Endemic to central Kalimantan in the mountains of the Indonesian region of Borneo, at altitudes between 1,000 and 1,900 metres ⁽⁵⁾.

Pitcher plant habitat

Nepenthes ephippiata grows amongst ridge top vegetation in mossy montane forest ⁽²⁾.

Pitcher plant status

Classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List ⁽¹⁾ and listed on Appendix II of CITES ⁽³⁾.

Pitcher plant threats

Nepenthes species are threatened by a combination of over-collection and habitat loss ⁽²⁾. The biodiversity of Indonesia is significantly threatened by widespread habitat destruction, caused by illegal and commercial logging and large agricultural projects such as rubber and oil palm plantations ⁽⁷⁾.

Pitcher plant conservation

Nepenthes ephippiata is, at present, relatively widespread and listed under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) which limits the international export of this species ⁽³⁾. However, trade is very difficult to regulate and there is no requirement for internationally traded Nepenthes to be identified down to species level. Plants simply labelled as Nepenthes accounted for 94 percent of all exported Nepenthes plants between 1988 and 1993. This needs to be remedied and urgent attention is required to close other trade loopholes ⁽²⁾. Nepenthes species, including Nepenthes ephippiata, are being increasingly cultivated, helping to reduce the impact on wild populations. Artificial propagation can help make conservation efforts more effective together with the establishment of more habitat reserves and the implementation and enforcement of protective laws ⁽⁸⁾.

Find out more

For more information on Nepenthes ephippiata see:

• Clarke, C. (1997) Nepenthes of Borneo. Natural History Publications, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.

Authentication

Glossary

Carnivore

Flesh-eating.

Endemic

A species or taxonomic group that is only found in one particular country or geographic area.

Enzymes

Proteins that trigger, or accelerate, activity in the cells of the body, for example, breaking down foods during digestion and building new proteins.

Fertilisation

In a flowering plant, fertilisation is the process of a pollen grain joining with the ovule (female egg cell). After fertilisation, the female parts of the flower develop into a fruit.

Invertebrates

Animals with no backbone.

Larvae

Stage in an animal’s lifecycle after it hatches from the egg. Larvae are typically very different in appearance to adults; they are able to feed and move around but usually are unable to reproduce.

Montane forest

Forest occurring in the montane zone, a zone of cool upland slopes below the tree line dominated by large evergreen trees.

Photosynthesis

Metabolic process characteristic of plants in which carbon dioxide is broken down, using energy from sunlight absorbed by the green pigment chlorophyll. Organic compounds are made and oxygen is given off as a by-product.

Pollination

The transfer of pollen grains from the stamen (male part of a flower) to the stigma (female part of a flower) of a flowering plant. This usually leads to fertilisation, the development of seeds and, eventually, a new plant.

References

1. IUCN Red List (May, 2008)
   http://www.iucnredlist.org
2. Clarke, C. (1997) Nepenthes of Borneo. Natural History Publications, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.
3. CITES (April, 2008)
   http://www.cites.org
4. Shiva, R.G. (1984) Pitcher Plants of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Maruzan Asia Pte Ltd, Singapore.
5. Jebb, M. and Creek, M. (1997) A skeletal revision of Nepenthes. Blumea, 42: 1 - 106.
6. Clarke, C. (2001) Nepenthes of Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia. Natural History Publications, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia..
7. Mittermeier, R.A., Gil, P.R., Hoffmann, M., Pilgrim, J., Brooks, T., Mittermeier, C.G., Lamoreux, J. and Da Fonseca, G.A.B. (2004) Hotspots Revisited. CEMEX, Mexico City.
8. Wild Borneo (May, 2008)
   http://www.wildborneo.com.my/articles/art_nos_con.html