Nepenthaceae FAMILY Vulnerable

Nepenthes distillatoria

Edibility

0/5

Medicinal

3/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Nepenthes distillatoria is an evergreen, climbing shrub, scrambling over other plants for support. An insectivorous plant, producing pitcher-like traps at the ends of its leaves into which insects fall and are digested in the fluid at the bottom of the pitcher. Said to be one of the most useful fibre plants in Sri Lanka, where it is commonly gathered from the wild for use as a tying material and to make baskets. The digestive enzymes in the pitcher are believed to be of use in the research into the treatment of AIDS. The plant has been listed as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2010)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeE. Asia - Sri Lanka.

HabitatFound in great abundance in wet low country, particularly where the wet ground has a sandy bottom[ 454 Title Useful Fiber Plants of the World Publication Author Dodge C.R. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/ Publisher USDA; Washington. Year 1897 ISBN Description A rather dated, but very comprehensive catalogue of fibre plants from around the world. The book can be downloaded from the Internet. ]. Waterlogged open scrub, along road embankments and other cleared areas, also in forest; from sea-level to 700 metres[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].