“Nepenthes alata”

“Pitcher plant,” a carnivorous member of the plant kingdom. “The pitcher is actually a swelling of the mid-vein in the leaf. Insects are attracted to this because of nectar secretions and coloration. The slippery rim (peristome) and inner walls of the pitcher encourage insects to fall into the digestive fluid at the bottom of the trap. Nutrients are absorbed from this ‘soup’” — http://www.pitcherplant.com/care_sheets/nepenthes_care.html

Species page at PhytoImages, http://phytoimages.siu.edu/cgi-bin/dol/dol_terminal.pl?taxon_name=Nepenthes_alata&rank=binomial

Photo taken at SIUC Plant Biology Greenhouse, http://www.plantbiology.siu.edu/facilities/plant-biology-facilities/greenhouse/index.php

1 year ago (“Circle of stars”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2013-11-05
2 years ago (“Time to grow!”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2012-11-05
3 years ago (“The rose bush thinks it’s still September or October!”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2011-11-05

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[Danette Thompson]

Interesting. I had never seen these before and I saw one at a Japanese garden. They are cool.

[Cathrine Mitchell]

Thank you for sharing the photo and narrative as I have not seen a Pitcher plant before.

[Rick Schies]

Another of nature's wonders

[Vicki Dixon]

such a cool plant