Monkey cup

Linnaeus named monkey cup as Nepenthes.  This carnivorous plant is commonly being known as monkey cup because it was said that monkeys in the wild will drink the fluid in the cups which developed at the tip of the leaves. This statement was later proven to be true by Paul A. Zahl (senior scientist) in his article published in May 1964 issue of National Geographic. FYI, Nat geo magazine is the magazine with the famous yellow border which resemble a frame :) 

"The carriers called them "monkey cups," a name I had heard elsewhere in reference to Nepenthes, but the implication that monkeys drink the pitcher fluid seemed farfetched. I later proved it true. In Sarawak I found an orangutan that had been raised as a pet and later freed. As I approached it gingerly in the forest, I offered it a half-full pitcher. To my surprise, the ape accepted it and, with the finesse of a lady at tea, executed a delicate bottoms-up."

I successfully acclimatized monkey cup from in vitro culture. This is the plant in in vitro before acclimatization.

Mini monkey cup in culture vessel

Initially they were not looking good after i transferred them into pot. All the leaves are drying and dying, so i trimmed them off in the hope that will stimulate them to grow new leaves. I'm surprised and happy that they did! Yeah  ^^v

Ta dah~~~ They're growing bigger, greener and shinier after a few weeks or months (i lost count >_< ) transferred from the in vitro culture. As you can see, there are pitcher forming at the tip of every leaf too.

The lid on top of the cup is still unopen. Can't wait for them to become mature and open it! 

Pitchers with various sizes, from right to left : Large, medium and small. hehehe ^^