Nepenthes | Pitcher Plant

Well, let’s cut right to the chase… Growing Hobby often sells a pitcher plant that is known as the Shrew Loo. Yes. The Nepenthes lowii is a large pitcher plant that invites small rodents to lick its lid while straddling the pitcher. Droppings fall in, and the pitcher plant gets much-needed nitrogen. I’m serious. You can even buy a sticker.

Here’s the amazing info about Nepenthes: The plant is a rosette of long leaves which have heavy veins running through the center that turn into tendrils holding pitchers at the end of the leaves. There are two types of pitchers. The lower ones attract crawling insects, while the upper ones attract those that fly. The lower ones are typically brighter in color and sometimes sport leafy ladders. The pitchers contain sweet nectar glands to entice insects and intoxicate them, causing them to stumble into the pitcher.  Add to that – the rim of the pitcher is often very brightly colored and extremely slippery. Bugs that hide under the lid to escape rain easily slip into the pitcher while holding onto the rim. The lid has a purpose, also. It covers the pitcher until it is mature enough to capture prey, and it keeps rain from falling in the pitcher and diluting the digestive enzymes that dissolve the insects. And just in case the bug is still trying to escape, the inside walls of the pitcher plant are waxy and slippery. Bye, bug.