beatznbiodiversity

Nepenthes lingulata and Nepenthes jamban (left to right)

Both species are native to the montane forests of northern Sumatra and are sympatric meaning that they often occur together.

Nepenthes bicalcarata.

Nepenthes jamban 

Native to the montane forests of Northen Sumatra, (typically 1800 - 2100 metres above sea level) N. jamban  is distinct among Nepenthes in its particularly infundibular (funnel shaped) pitchers and its narrow operculum containing 20 - 30 visible glands concentrated at its apex. (glands not visible in these photos.

Top left is a terrestrial pitcher while top right and bottom are upper pitchers. (a particular Nepenthes species’ pitchers size and shape is usually affected by whether or not a pitcher is close to or on the ground or attatched to the climbing vine and therefore elevated. Lower pitchers tend to be larger, wider and more colourful while upper pitchers are more slender and less colourful, FYI. :))

Source: Wikipedia

Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher by santanu nandy on Flickr.

Flora, Southern India by Hesperia2007 on Flickr.

Sundews (genus Drosera) 

… are a cosmopolitan group of carnivorous plants that grow in bogs and fens and “micro-environments” within regular wetlands that mimic bog-like conditions. These habitats are acidic due to low or no water flow and the build-up of decomposing vegetation, and are typically very nutrient-poor. Plants have evolved different ways to deal with the nutrient deficit; sundews developed the ability to “prey” on insects to gather what the soil can’t provide. 

Both the sundew’s common and scientific names refer to the beads of mucus that tip the thin hairs on each leaf. This mucus contains enzymes that are used to trap and subsequently break down prey that are attracted to the sweet secretions. The broad part of each leaf also contains glands that help absorb the nutrients from the prey. Sensors in the plant’s pads can detect when a prey item has become trapped in the sticky mucus and will curl the leaves around the insect’s body in order to digest it, much in the same way that a Venus flytrap will snap closed when a bug lands on it. photograph by Distant Hill Gardens on Flickr