Nepenthes is the general name of all Nepenthes species. It belongs to tropical insect-eating plants, and its origin is mainly in the tropical areas of the Old World. It has a unique organ, insect trap, which can absorb nutrients. The insect-catching cage is cylindrical, slightly enlarged at the lower part and covered at the cage mouth, so it is named after it looks like a pig cage.

Nepenthes leaf structure is complex, including petiole, leaf body and tendrils. The tail of tendrils unfolds and rolls back to the bottle shape, which can prey on insects. Nepenthes have racemes and small green or purple flowers, and the bottle-shaped body at the top of the leaves is a tool for catching insects. The side of the bottle cap of the bottle can isolate fragrance and attract insects. When the bottle mouth is smooth, insects will sneak into the bottle, be submerged by the liquid secreted by the bottom of the bottle, and decompose the nutrients in the insects, and gradually digest and absorb them.

There are about 170 wild species of Nepenthes in the world, only 1 species in China and Guangdong, and more than 1000 horticultural species. Nepenthes is wild in Sanlingshan and Leizhou, Guangdong, but it is rarely used. It was not until 1990s that the fine varieties of Nepenthes introduced from China were mainly used for flower shows.

Nepenthes is a perennial vine with woody or semi-woody stems, nearly 3 meters high, climbing trees or growing along the ground. Generally, the leaves are rectangular with cage-shaped tendrils at the end, which is convenient for climbing. A bottle-shaped or funnel-shaped insect trap with a cage cover will be formed at the end of the cage vine.

Appreciation of Nepenthes Pictures