What is the giant pitcher plant? Is it poisonous?

Many people do not know what giant pitcher plant is, in fact, it is also called Attenborough pitcher plant, is a huge variety of pitcher plant, although it is a plant, but can swallow mouse-sized creatures, very terrible. Giant pitcher plant is one of the unique insectivorous plants in Palawan province, which often appears in bushes. So is the giant pitcher plant poisonous?

What is the giant pitcher plant?

The giant pitcher plant is a carnivorous plant, which has many derived varieties, some with mucus on the leaves, and some wrap the plants with curls through the leaves. The earliest rumors of this breed came from Christian missionaries who found it on the top of Mount Victoria in Palawan, the Philippines.

There are many species of pitcher plants in the world, about 600 species, most of which are grown in an environment lacking nitrogen. Giant pitcher plants are about 30 centimeters in diameter, which makes it easy to devour rodents, but in most cases, giant pitcher plants feed on insects.

The leaves of the giant pitcher plant are very large, 15 centimeters wide and even 40 centimeters long. they look oval, and the leaves are thick and obtuse and extend downward. It can produce insect traps, which are very large and sometimes can reach a capacity of 1.5-2 liters, which looks terrible.

The lower cage of the giant pitcher plant is brittle, shaped like a clock, about 30 centimeters high and 16 centimeters wide. The length of the cage vine is about thirty to forty centimeters and the diameter is about nine millimeters. The cage vine is flat and the cross section is flat and round. The upper cage of Attenborough pitcher plant is similar to the lower cage, but it is generally funnel-shaped, with a height of up to 25 cm and a width of 12 cm.

Is the giant pitcher plant poisonous?

The giant pitcher plant itself is toxic, but the toxin needs to be promoted by ultraviolet light in order to be better absorbed. The juices of leaves, roots, stems and seeds of pitcher plants contain a substance called furan coumarin, which is very toxic under the promotion of ultraviolet light. If a person's skin touches a giant pitcher plant, sun dermatitis will occur. When ultraviolet rays, that is, a mixture of sunlight and sweat, play a chemical reaction, the skin will grow into large blisters and have a strong burning sensation. This kind of blisters will leave scars, usually dark purple or crimson, which can be said to have a great impact on people.

If the hands contaminated with venom touch the eyes before there is no reaction, it will cause periodic blindness, and irreversible blindness will occur if it is serious and without timely treatment. it can be said that the harm of giant pitcher plants is very great. In addition, it also does some harm to animals.