Common name: Pitcher Plant
Scientific name: Nepenthes ampullaria
Indonesian name: Tentadu

Taxonomy: Plantae; Tracheophyta; Magnoliopsida; Nepenthales; Nepenthaceae

Threat Status: Lower Risk/Least Concern (IUCN Red List)

Distribution: N. ampullaria is one of the most widespread Nepenthes species. It has been found in Brunei; Indonesia (Kalimantan, Papua, Sumatra); Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak); Papua New Guinea; Singapore and Thailand.

Ecology: This species of tropical pitcher plant has moved away from a carnivorous diet and instead gets its nutrients from fallen leaf matter on the forest floor. This digestion of plant matter results in the species being considered partially detritivorous. Additionally, there have been many instances of the plant forming a 'carpet' of pitchers over the soil. This large coverage allows the plants to intercept falling debris.

Habitat: This species of pitcher plant is found in damp shady forests. In Borneo, it is located in swamp forests. Additionally, N.ampullaria is can be found in secondary forest, swamp grassland and among microphyllous vegetation.

Morphology: There are 38 recorded species of pitcher plants in Borneo. It is easy to identify this particular species of pitcher plant due to its unique morphology and growth habit. The stem is typically light brown and can climb to a height of 15 meters. Lower pitchers grow in an urn-shape with narrow backward flipped lids. The pitchers of N.ampullaria range in color from a light shade of green to dark red. When young, the plant is entirely covered with short, brown hairs.

Interesting Facts: Over 59 aquatic burrowing animal species have been identified in the pitchers of this pitcher plant species. These include the small Matang narrow-mouthed frog (Microhyla nepenthicola) as well as the crab spider (Misumenops nepenthicola).