Photo Essay Photo Essay

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Tepuis: Carnivorous Species

A remarkable example of carnivory in the tepui biome is Heliamphora tatei var. tatei (Sarraceniaceae), from bogs on the summit of Cerro Huachamacari in Amazonas state. The five species of this genus grow naturally on several tepui summits and in a few boggy sites of the Gran Sabana. The species pictured here is the only member of the genus that has branched stems and can reach 3 meters in height. The well-known North American relative, Sarracenia, grows in low-lying bogs throughout the East Coast and into the upper Midwest and Canada. The third genus, Darlingtonia, or cobra-lily, only occurs in northern California and southern Oregon.