Pitcher plant  (Nepenthes pervillei)

Classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List 2002 (1) and listed on Appendix II of CITES (3).

Nepenthes pervillei is a pitcher plant native to the Seychelles. It is a climbing plant that can sprawl to seven metres along the ground or in the trees as a vine (4). The leathery, green leaves are broad at the base, and tapering to their tip; they form rosettes (5) along the reddish-brown stems of the plant (2). The middle vein (or ‘midrib’) of each leaf extends beyond the main portion of the leaf and forms either a tendril or develops into a pitcher (2). The mature pitchers are goblet-shaped flasks that can be up to 21 cm long (2). They vary in colour from red, green, yellow or orange and are topped by a circular lid (2). Brownish-cream flowers are borne on loose clusters (5) on branching inflorescences that can be up to 40 cm long (2). Fertilised female flowers develop into the club-shaped seed capsules (5). As the capsules dry out, the valves separate, allowing the seeds within to be dispersed by the wind (4).

Endemic to the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean, Nepenthes pervillei is found on the islands of Mahé and Silhouette within the archipelago (2).

Inhabits a variety of island vegetation including scrubland, mist forest, moss forest and high altitude vegetation (4).

Nepenthes pervillei is a carnivorous plant, which traps prey in its pitchers. Insects are attracted to the pitcher by a fragrant odour, but the waxy surface of the inner wall does not provide support, and the plant’s victims tumble into the fluid below. A powerful digestive acid is then released from the pitcher walls, which consumes the prey (2).

Although this pitcher plant appears to be locally abundant it is only known from a total area of 47 hectares and therefore qualifies as Vulnerable under IUCN categories (4).

Picher plants are listed under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which restricts trade in wild-collected plants (3). In addition, much of the range on Mahé fall within the Morne Seychellois National Park and only authorised personnel are allowed access to the vulnerable habitats on Silhouette Island in an effort to protect the wealth of animal and plant life found there (4) (6).