Its goes by the scientific name, Heliamphora nutans and is commonly called the Venezuelan marsh pitcher, sun pitcher or just pitcher plant. It prefers to live in marshy places, wet rock sheet and between summit vegetation (plants that grow on mountain tops). These plants are often times used for decoration and not many people know about this fact, but they are in fact carnivores and prey on small insects.
There are around about 18 known species of carnivorous Heliamphora, all of which are endemic to Venezuela, Guyana and Brazil. This specific species was the first in the genus to be discovered and was spotted by Robert and Richard Schomburgk on the slopes of Mount Roraima in October – November 1838.
The pitcher plant is found in north-eastern South America, including Venezuela and Guyana, at elevations of 1,200–2,800 m on the tepuis (table top mountains) of the Guyanan Shield.
In terms of looks, the plant is in actuality a tuft of cone-shaped leaves, which form pitchers to trap insects and is produced from a rhizome. A small slit about half way up each pitcher acts as a drain to let out excess water. The pitchers are green with red markings, and measure around 20–30 by 8–10 cm across the mouth. The flowering stems can reach 40–45 cm and carry red bracts and a few nodding flowers with narrow, pointed, white petals around 3–5 cm long. The brown anthers are clustered around a short style. The seeds are winged with wavy ridges.
At the top of the pitcher lies a small lid, which does not cover the mouth of the pitcher but secretes nectar that helps to attract unsuspecting insects. Once lured to the rim of the pitcher, the insect starts to feed on the nectar. That is when downward pointing hairs on the inside of the pitcher invariably cause the prey to lose their grip and fall into the liquid-filled base of the trap where they drown.
