Australian Pitcher Colouring

The Australian pitcher plant is a small ground-hugging carnivorous plant found only in southwestern Western Australia. Its scientific name is Cephalotus follicularis, and it is the only living species in its plant family. It grows in damp sandy soil near swamps, streams and river margins, where the ground may stay wet but contains little nitrogen. Curiously, it is not closely related to the tropical pitcher plants or the trumpet pitchers. Similar living conditions led these different plants to evolve cup-shaped traps independently, an example called convergent evolution. Australian pitcher plants make ordinary flat green leaves as well as specialised pitcher leaves. Each pitcher is usually only about five centimetres long and has a hairy lid, sturdy side ridges and a ribbed rim that resembles tiny teeth. Nectar attracts ants and other crawling insects to the pitcher. The rim can become very slippery, so a visitor that steps too far may slide inside. Smooth surfaces and inward-facing features make the return climb difficult. Digestive liquid in the bottom breaks the prey down, and the plant absorbs the released nutrients. The lid helps shelter the pitcher from too much rain, while translucent patches may confuse insects searching for a way out. Small worms and fly larvae can sometimes live inside the pitchers, creating a miniature community. The plant also sends up a tall slender stalk of tiny white flowers, keeping pollinating insects well above the traps. Wild populations are vulnerable, so children and grown-ups should never dig them up. Nursery-grown plants are the responsible choice for collectors. For this page, colour the pitchers fresh green, bronze, burgundy or a mixture of red and green. Plants in stronger sunlight often show more red, while sheltered leaves can remain greener. Make the ribbed rims cream, pale green or red-striped and colour the lids to match each pitcher. The ants can be black, brown or rusty orange, and the fallen twig warm tan. Add pale blue to the stream, sandy beige to the ground and gentle grey or lavender to the stones. Use curved strokes around each rounded cup and short strokes along the ribs. Keeping the flat leaves a different green will help children compare the plant’s ordinary food-making leaves with its clever insect-catching pitchers.

◫ A4 size✎ Bold outlines♡ Ages 3–8

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