[dailyplantfacts]

Nepenthes bicalcarata is in the family Nepenthaceae. Commonly known as the fanged pitcher plant, it is endemic to Borneo. The specific epithet “bicalcarata” means “two spurs” in latin, and refers to the fangs that hang from the lid of the pitchers. These spurs are believed to accumulate nectar to attract insects which fall into the trap below. This species also has a mutualistic relationship with a species of ant that lives inside the tendrils of this plant. In exchange for offering housing to the ants, the ants provide a source of nutrients which the fanged pitcher plant requires to survive. In fact, it has been hypothesized that the fanged pitcher plant lacks digestive enzymes normally found in the traps of other pitcher plants due to the fact that this species acquires nutrients from its ant residents.