Nepenthes rajah

Available as a Poster, Framed Print or Canvas

19th century English botanical explorer Joseph Dalton Hooker described Nepenthes rajah as "one of the most striking vegetable productions hither-to discovered." It is the largest species of Nepenthes in the world, with huge red pitchers holding up to 6 liters of fluid, and is one of only two species of Nepenthes known to regularly capture small mammals (the other being N. rafflesiana).

In addition to its prey, N. rajah is home to several species of insects and spiders that cannot live in any other environment (creatures known as "nepenthebionts").

This beautifully detailed watercolor was painted by English botanical artist Matilda Smith and published in Curtis's Botanical Magazine, where she contributed her artwork for over forty years.