INSECT TRAPS: Pitchers vary in size and act as a ‘stomach’ for the plants.
THIS week, let’s move away from the usual beautiful flowering and colourful foliage plants to some plants with a little more bite. Although carnivorous plants may sound intimidating, they can actually be very interesting and beautiful additions to the garden.
Nepenthes
Pitcher plants are can easily be found in our jungles. Nepenthes is a genus containing about 60 species, which are all native to tropical Asia, Australia and Madagascar.
The interesting feature of this plant lies in the pot, which acts as a ‘stomach’ for the plants. Pitchers vary greatly in size from an inch to a foot or more in depth. All have a lid, which acts like a container when the prey is inside the cup.
There are sweet glands near the mouth to attract insects to crawl towards the pitcher and be trapped by the insecure foothold in the curved margins of the rim. Insects are lured into the conducting area and then the lower retentive glands that secrete digestive juices ferment the victims for digestion. The smooth interior walls provide no foothold for the fallen victims, which are left to drown and rot as food for the plant. One has to admire nature’s impressive architectural design.
Propagation
The plants can be germinated from wild pitcher plant seeds. Nowadays you can also get lab-bred tissue cultured plantlets embedded in gel tubes.
Growing a species indoors is not difficult. Having them around is a good way to appreciate the wonders of the natural world.
To learn more about Nepenthes, read ‘Pitcher Plants of Borneo’ (1996) by Anthony Lamb of the Sabah Agriculture Department and Anthea Philioos. An extended version from 2008 is also available, with Ch’ien C Lee as a co-author. Ch’ien C Lee and Charles Clarke also published a ‘Pocket Guide on Pitcher Plants of Sarawak’ in 2004.
Sarrace##nia
Sarracenia is a genus comprising 11 species of North American pitcher plants. These are carnivorous plants indigenous to the eastern seaboard, Texas and the Great Lakes of North America. The Sarracenia have digestive juices – proteases and other enzymes – for the consumption of amino acids from insects.
The leaves have actually evolved into a funnel in order to trap insects. Insects are attracted by the secretion of nectar on the lip, as well as the colours and scent.
To increase the chances of success, there is a slippery footing around the rim, which also disperses at least one narcotic drug. This laces the nectar with enough power to make the prey fall into the funnels. The plant basically ‘eats’ live insects.
Lizard’s tail
This local plant with the scientific name Saururus chinensis will bloom occasionally. It is a moisture-loving dicotyledonous perennial that is sometimes planted in water gardens. The plant belongs to the family Saururaceae. You can actually find it growing in the wild in our jungles.
It can be grown in sandy soil under full sun and even in a waterlogged medium as it does not need well-drained soil. Acidic soils with a pH of less than 6 is fine. The ideal site would be a low damp place with good access to water.
Propagation
Seeds are best sown in moistened soil or in shallow water. Put seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle field planting. Division of spreading roots is possible too and regular division will actually maintain the vigour of the plant.
This lizard tail is widely used for Chinese medicine. In Japan, it is one of the eight powerful ingredients for Takara body detoxification foot patches. Its other medicinal properties are as a parasiticide, anti-malaria aid, diuretic, eliminative and laxative. The plant is also used in the treatment of oedema, rheumatoid arthritis and fungal skin infections. The leaves can dried and used as a tea for the treatment of back pain as well as stomach ailments.
Happy gardening. Do send me an email for details.