“THIS Garden is home to fiftyfive species and sub-species of pitcher plants (Nepenthes) that are native to Borneo Island, ranging from the largest species in Sarawak – the Nepenthes Rafflesiana, which can accommodate a liter of liquid – to the tiniest, the Nepenthes Gracilis. Those interested in or doing research on these exotic plants ought to visit us and avoid traveling too far to other nature parks, where they would only be able to chance upon four or five species, at best!” said Mr. Stephen Lim, the Park Officer of Padawan Municipal Council’s Pitcher Plant Garden.
‘The Garden, boasting a ‘minirainforest’ setting, is located at the far end of Kota Padawan Bazaar, 16 km from the Kuching city centre. Gathered from places as far away as Teluk Melano in the far west of the state to Marudi in the north, the pitcher plants are of the lowland species that grow in areas less than 3000 metres above sea level. Most of them thrive in moist surroundings, although certain species grow well in wet areas and even on rocks.
A pitcher plant has two types of pitchers: the lower ones function as traps to catch food and to process it, and the upper ones creep and twine upwards to reach for sunlight. “The Garden is not suitable to accommodate the highland species, but there is a plan to find a way to exhibit species from our own highlands as well as pitcher plants from the other ASEAN regions in the near future. Other than our pitcher plants, we also have a small collection of various wild orchids, and other rare and exotic wild plants in the Garden,” Mr. Lim elaborated, who, with several years of experience in managing the Garden, has vast knowledge on pitcher plants. Pitcher plants are carnivorous and self-feeding. The larger species feed on animals such as insects, frogs, mice, and even small birds, which are trapped and then expire within the pitcher.
The pitcher then functions as a “stomach” and excretes enzymes that process these animals to be absorbed by the plant. This is the reason why the plant will die if the pitchers are destroyed or removed from the plant: it needs the pitchers to survive. Pitcher plants are a protected species in the state of Sarawak.
Any person caught damaging, stealing or involved in any actions that cause harm or damage to the plants may face legal penalties and/or fines. The Pitcher Plant Garden’s Opening Hours are: Tuesday to Friday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Weekends/Public Holidays: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Pitcher Plant Garden is closed on Mondays. Tickets: Malaysian: RM 3.00 Non-Malaysian: RM 6.00.
Pitcher).
Gracilis.
