Tropical pitcher plant or monkey cups

ផ្កាបំពង់ប្រឡោម​ឬរាជលឹង្គ (translated as attractive bottle or royal dick, excuse the language but because they named it as it looks really like human's organ) is Cambodian name for tropical pitcher plant or monkey cups [Nepenthes]. It is in the monotypic family Nepenthaceae. They said this plant is a kind of carnivorous plant with modified leaves as pitfall-traps, a prey. They catch insects that come near them. The genus comprises about 170 species around the world. Read more here.

 

To grow, the plant needs high humidity, warm temperatures, and lots of space.

In Cambodia, we found that this plant grows in plateau area. After rainy season from November onwards, you can see abundance of them on

-       Bokor Mountain at Veal Sre 100 and Veal Sre 500 point – lots here in open space, map is here (easy access)

-       Some mountains at Koh Kong province in Thma Bang district, map is here (deep in jungle at Veal Tapreak & Veal Tameas) or

-       The mountain areas in Kulen national park at Siem Reap, map is here.

 

Benefits of the plants:

-     Locals at Siem Reap said that they can cure babies that have pee problem at night (use the plant that does not open yet)

-     Locals at Siem Reap also use the plant to wrap sticky rice cake (put stuff such as sticky rice and coconut inside the plant and boil it), the stem/vine can also be used to weave as basket.

-     Trekkers who get dehydration while hiking can look into the plant (closed one) and drink water from this plant.

· Link to video of the plant on Bokor mountain, here

. Read more about the plant here.