Pitcher Plant

A carnivorous plant that digests insects in pools of enzyme-filled liquid/Plants

Pitcher plants are carnivorous plants that have evolved modified leaves shaped like deep pitchers or cups, which serve as passive pitfall traps for insects and other small prey. The rim (peristome) of the pitcher is covered in microscopic ridges that become extremely slippery when wet, causing insects to slide into the pool of digestive enzymes at the bottom. The largest species, Nepenthes rajah from Borneo, can hold up to 3.5 liters of fluid and has been known to trap rats, frogs, and even small birds. Pitcher plants have evolved independently in multiple plant families across the Americas, Asia, and Australia.