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Tropical Pitcher Plant (Nepenthes attenboroughii)
Aug 7, 2025
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It is the largest carnivorous plant in
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the world. It's known to eat mice and
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rats, and it was only discovered by
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western scientists in 2007.
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No, this isn't a madeup monster from
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some far-flung jungle. It's a real plant
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that actually exists. Hi again, Malcolm
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Walker here on Wild but true, and it's
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called the tropical pitcher plant or
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nepentheas atenboroough. And it's found
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only in the remote jungles of the
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Philippines. This plant is part of a
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group of plants known as capensus, which
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are known for their ability to trap and
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digest acids.
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But this plant takes things to the next
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level.
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Not only does it trap insects like other
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plants in its group, but it's even known
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to trap small rodents like rats. And it
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does this with its pitchers, these
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large, deep red containers that look
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like upside down lotus seed pods. The
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plant uses these pitchers to collect
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rain water, which it then uses to trap
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and digest its prey. The pitchers are
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lined with a sticky substance that makes
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it easy for insects and small animals to
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climb up the sides. But they have no way
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of escaping once they reach the top. The
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plants typically grow in areas with a
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lot of moisture, such as near streams or
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in swamps. This gives them access to the
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water they need to survive. But it also
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means that they have to compete with
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other plants for nutrients in order to
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get the nutrients they need to survive.
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Pitcher plants have evolved to trap and
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digest animals that come into contact
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with them. What would happen if they
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disappeared? Well, pitcher plants play
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an important role in the ecosystem. They
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help to control populations of insects
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and small animals, and they also provide
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a food source for larger animals who eat
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the insects that are trapped in their
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pitchers. If pitcher plants were to
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disappear, it would have a negative
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impact on the ecosystem as a whole.
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There are many different types of
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pitcher plants, and they come in a
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variety of shapes, sizes, and colors.
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Some pitcher plants are very small,
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while others can grow to be over a meter
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tall.
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Some are red, while others are green or
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even blue. But no matter what their size
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or color,
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all pitcher plants are carnivorous. And
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they all use their pitchers to trap and
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digest their prey. Now, as I mentioned
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before, this particular plant is known
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as the tropical pitcher plant, more
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specifically nepiatenboro. It's one of
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the largest types of pitcher plants, and
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it's found only in the remote jungles of
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the Philippines. It was only discovered
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by Western scientists in 2007, although
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the locals had known about it for many
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years. It gets its name from the famous
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naturalist Sir David Atenboroough who
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has narrated many nature documentaries.
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These plants are very rare and there are
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only a few hundred of them left in the
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wild. They are threatened by habitat
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loss due to deforestation as well as by
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illegal hunting and poaching. The good
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news is that there are conservation
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efforts underway to protect this unique
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plant from extinction. So hopefully
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we'll be able to enjoy the tropical
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pitcher plant for many years to come.
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You may think that this plant sounds
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scary, and I don't blame you. After all,
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it does eat rats,
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but pitcher plants are actually very
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beneficial for the environment. They
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help keep populations of insects and
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small animals under control, and they
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also provide food for larger animals.
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So, next time you see a pitcher plant,
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remember that it's not just a scary
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monster, but an important part of our
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ecosystem.
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Let me know in the comments below. And
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before you go, make sure to get your
3:26
free sample of wisdom by clicking the
3:28
link in the description.
#Biological Sciences
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