Did you know? There is one unique insect-eating plant that lives on this beloved earth. Can you guess that? If you answered pitcher plant, then you are right! Yep, the pitcher plant is a unique type of liana that has pocket-like structure on the tip of its leaves which function to catch prey, namely small insects such as flies, ants, butterflies and grasshoppers. Actually, this plant can get nutrients from the environment, but why does the pitcher plant have to eat insects? And how is the biological mechanism inside the digestive pitcher?
The pitcher plant or internationally known as Nepenthes sp. are plants that live on the ground and there are some that stick (epiphytes) to tree trunks and branches (Ex: Nepenthes veitchii). The pitcher plant can be found in Indonesia, especially in Kalimantan island. Several types of pitcher plants that can be found in Kalimantan are Nepenthes boschiana, Nepenthes gracilis, Nepenthes mirabilis, Nepenthes mapuluensis, Nepenthes fusca, Nepenthes hirsuta, Nepenthes hispida, Nepenthes vilosa, Nepenthes mollis, Nepenthes muluensis, and others. In Badak LNG itself, Nepenthes gracilis and Nepenthes mirabilis can be found growing naturally in the conservation forest and Nepenthes mapuluensis is cultivated using plant tissue culture.
Pitcher plants can live in areas that are poor in nutrients compared to other plants. For survival, pitcher plant will modify its leaves into a pouch whose function is to catch insects and then absorb important nutrients for its metabolism. After capturing prey, nitrogen nutrients from the prey will be allocated to other tissues. According to Yilamujiang et al. (2017) nitrogen is released from the hydrolysis of urea into ammonia and CO2. What's more unique is that the pitcher plant can photosynthesize even though it gets nutrients from its prey.
The pitcher plant has a way to attracting its prey to approach it, namely by emitting an aroma that its prey likes, a striking color of pitchers, and a unique shape. When the prey approaches, the pitcher plant will catch it by releasing a sticky liquid so that it is difficult for the prey to escape. Once trapped, the pitcher plant begins to digest nutrients assisted by enzymes. According to Ubaidillah et al. (2020) enzymes that help in the process of nutrient absorption are glucanase, chitinase, protease, nuclease, phosphatase, lipase and peroxidase. The enzymes glucanase and chitinase help digest the exoskeleton of prey and the cell walls of captured pathogens. Protease, nuclease, and phosphatase enzymes help in the process of digestion of proteins and nucleic acids into needed nitrogen and phosphate. Lipase, which probably comes from the fluid in the pitcher plant, helps break down lipids into fatty acids and glycerol. Peroxidases contribute to defense against pathogens.