STORY BEHIND THE ART OF ELAINE GOLDSTONE

23rd Annual International

American Society of Botanical Artists at Wave Hill

3 Nepenthes

Nepenthes veitchii x platychila, N. ventricosa, N lowii x campanulata

Two years ago I was introduced to carnivorous plants in Sebastopol, where I visited a large retail greenhouse that specializes in carnivorous plants. I was amazed at the variety of plants as well as the magical beauty of their colors and shapes. Carnivorous plants adapt to their challenging environments with very little soil and nutrients coming to the root structure, so they rely on photosynthesis and attract prey that becomes trapped in the plant. Prey usually consists of insects, but small mammals, amphibians, or even birds have been known to get caught and absorbed by carnivorous plants.

I now have a growing collection of carnivorous plants, including examples of Sarracenia, Nepenthes, Drosera, and Pinguicula. They are surprisingly easy to grow with the right conditions.

This painting of “3 Nepenthes” reflects my continuing study and wonder over these fascinating plants. I was inspired by the variety of tropical pitcher plants that exist in nature and the many more cultivars that growers have produced from them. Included in the painting are three varieties of highland (3,000 to 10,000 ft altitude) and highland cross plants. I chose them because they show the variety of shapes and colors that the genus can display.

The Nepenthes genus includes about 170 species as well as many natural and cultivated hybrids. Nepenthes are found in tropical and tropical montane regions in Asia and Australia; the greatest diversity is found in Borneo, Sumatra, and the Philippines, where there are many endemic species. Many species are rare or endangered du to habitat loss and poaching.

Nepenthes usually have a shallow root system and a stem that is either prostrate or climbing. In some species tendrils protruding from the tips of leaf aid climbing; at the end of the tendril a pitcher develops into a globe- or tube-shaped trap. In the trap the plant produces a sticky liquid that attracts but eventually drowns the prey; glands in the trap absorb nutrients from the prey. The pitcher may have one or more structural parts that keep the prey from escaping; for example, a slick, waxy coating; a slippery peristome or “lip.” Nepenthes usually produce two types of pitchers, large, lower ones on the ground at the base of the plant, and upper or aerial pitchers as the plant grows taller. The complexities of the morphology can make the plants difficult to distinguish.

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Read more about this artist’s work: 22nd Annual