Tropical Pitcher Colouring

Tropical pitcher plants belong to the genus Nepenthes, a large group with about two hundred recognised species. They are native from the Seychelles and Madagascar through Southeast Asia to New Guinea, northern Australia and islands of the western Pacific. Many live in humid rainforests, while others grow on misty mountains, in swamps or on exposed nutrient-poor ground. A Nepenthes plant is often a climbing vine. Each broad green leaf can continue into a thin tendril, and the tendril’s tip swells into a hanging pitcher. A lid arches above the opening. The lid does not snap shut; instead, it helps guide visitors and can keep heavy rain from flooding the trap. Pitchers come in wonderful shapes, from short round cups to tall tubes. Nectar around the rim, called the peristome, attracts flies, ants and other small animals. When the rim is wet it can be extremely slippery. A visitor may lose its footing and tumble into the pitcher. Waxy or smooth inner walls make escape difficult, while liquid in the bottom traps and digests the prey. The plant absorbs nutrients released into the fluid but still uses sunlight to make its energy. Some Nepenthes have surprising partnerships: particular species may collect falling leaves, receive droppings from visiting mammals or provide shelter for tiny animals. These relationships show that pitcher plants are more than simple insect traps. Many species have very small wild ranges, so they should be protected from habitat destruction and illegal collecting. Choose responsibly nursery-propagated plants rather than wild specimens. Colour the main pitcher bright green, golden yellow, red, purple or a spotted mixture. Give its ribbed rim bold stripes so the slippery landing place stands out. The lid may match the pitcher or have a lighter underside. Use deep green for mature leaves and yellow-green for new ones, then trace the curling tendrils carefully with a sharp pencil. The fly can be grey, blue or brown with pale wings. Colour the rainforest leaves in several greens and leave a little white around them for a humid, airy feeling. Smooth curved strokes will make each pitcher look rounded, while small dots can create harmless decorative speckles. Try a different pattern on all three pitchers to celebrate the amazing variety found across the Nepenthes family.

◫ A4 size✎ Bold outlines♡ Ages 3–8

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Choose a favourite colour palette
Add a simple background
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Grown-up note: Please supervise printing and choose age-appropriate art materials.