Dean M. Chriss
Photography
Pitcher Plant, Sabah, Borneo
(Click image to enlarge)
There are roughly 50 species of carnivorous Asian pitcher plants on the island
of Borneo.
All of them grow beautifully shaped pitchers that are partially filled with a digestive liquid. The small
ones can be the size of a thimble and are ideal for catching small insects.
Others can hold a half gallon of digestive liquid and are large enough to catch
and consume rats and other small vertebrates such as small birds, lizards, and
frogs. Some species have evolved immunity to the digestive enzymes within these
plants and have a symbiotic relationship with them. I think the plant shown in
this photo is a fairly common Nepenthes rafflesiana, but with so many varieties
I am not absolutely sure.