The first recorded observations on Nepenthes by a westerner are those by Etienne de Flacourt, Governor of a French colony in Madagascar in 1658. The name "Nepenthes" was coined in 1737 by Linnaeus to recall a narcotic (nepenthe) with which Helen of Troy snockered her guests. Most people use the Latin name as a common name, although they are also know as "tropical pitcher plants" or "monkey cups".
Nepenthes plants are clambering vines with (usually) long and somewhat unremarkable sword-shaped leaves. At the tip of each leaf is a tendril that often has a little looping twist in it. This twist lets the plant hang onto surrounding vegetation for support. The tendril is tipped by a pitcher---the carnivorous pitfall trap.
The details of the Nepenthes pitchers naturally varies with species. But the general plan is a watertight pitcher with slippery walls that are very difficult for prey to scale once they have fallen inside. The mouth of the pitcher is adorned with a ribbed structure called a peristome. This peristome helps retain prey, and also conducts prey into the pitcher. A pitcher lid hangs over the pitcher opening. This may help keep rain out attract prey by its attractive coloration and nectar glands. Prey hanging onto the underside of the lid are in extreme danger of plummeting into the pitcher!
Nepenthes pitchers usually capture small arthropods. Sometimes small vertebrate animals are captured, too. Nepenthes rajah is sometimes cited as capturing little frogs. Did you know that the last thing in a frog to be digested is the skin of its hands? Look in a pitcher of Nepenthes rajah and you can learn about how many frogs it has been eating by looking at the little gloves floating in the juices! Occasionally, yes, very occasionally larger animals such as very small rodents are captured. But this is rare, and does not really reflect upon the normal course of things. You probably eat the occasional cockroach without knowing about it, but I doubt you would consider them part of your regular diet.
Another interesting feature of Nepenthes, unique among all the carnivorous plants except perhaps the bromeliads, is that plants in the genus are dioecious. This means that the plants make either male flowers or female flowers. It seems that most Nepenthes specimens are male, so female plants are sometimes given a little extra value by those who breed Nepenthes.
Most species of Nepenthes have small ranges located in the Sunda region, that is Borneo, Sumatra, Java, and the Malay Peninsula. However there are interesting exceptions and some of the species have surprisingly extended ranges.
This listing is for 1 seed from a hybrid crossing. A hybrid being a cross between a highland and lowland species. Hybrids are very easy growers and thrive in a variety of temperature and humidity conditions. Ideal as potted plants around the home. Seeds are fresh form a supplier in Indonesia and properly stored to ensure a high germination rate.
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