Pitcher Plants

Pitcher plants are carnivorous plants that trap insects in tube-shaped leaves. The tubes are filled with liquid that digests the bugs. Insects are attracted by sweet nectar around the rim. Once they slip inside the slippery tube, they cannot climb back out.

The Perfect Trap

The rim of a pitcher plant is very slippery, especially when wet. Insects land on the rim to drink nectar and slide inside. The walls of the tube are smooth and waxy, making it impossible to climb out. The insect falls into a pool of digestive liquid at the bottom.

Types of Pitcher Plants

There are many types of pitcher plants around the world. Tropical pitcher plants from Southeast Asia can be as big as a football. North American pitcher plants grow in bogs and swamps. Some tropical pitcher plants are large enough to catch frogs and even small rats.

Fun Facts

• Some tropical pitcher plants can hold over half a gallon of liquid.
• The largest pitcher plants can catch frogs, lizards, and even small rats.
• Some pitcher plants have a partnership with bats that sleep inside them.

Did You Know?

One type of pitcher plant in Borneo has a special relationship with tree shrews. The shrew eats nectar from the plant and leaves droppings inside the pitcher, which feeds the plant!