Heliamphora

Heliamphora, or sun pitchers, are a genus of carnivorous plants native exclusively to South America, particularly the Guiana Highlands—a region spanning southern Venezuela, western Guyana, and northern Brazil. These plants grow almost entirely on tepuis, which are flat-topped, ancient sandstone mountains with high elevation and extreme isolation, leading to unique ecological niches.

• Habitat:

  High-elevation plateaus (typically 1,500 to 3,000 meters above sea level) with constant cloud cover, intense sunlight, high humidity, and nutrient-poor, acidic soils.

• Environment:

  Cool days, colder nights, and frequent rainfall or mist. The soil is often composed of quartz sand, sphagnum moss, and peat-like materials.

• Carnivory:

  Heliamphora traps insects using tall tubular pitchers that collect rainwater. Prey drowns inside, where it’s digested by symbiotic bacteria and enzymes secreted by the plant or commensal microorganisms.

• Features:

  They often have a “nectar spoon” at the top of each pitcher, which secretes sweet fluid to attract insects. Unlike Nepenthes or Sarracenia, Heliamphora pitchers do not have a lid and rely on the overhanging spoon and upright posture to prevent dilution by rain.