The genus Heliamphora (/hɛliˈæmfərə/ or /hiːliˈæmfərə/; Greek: helos "marsh" and amphoreus "amphora") contains 23 species of pitcher plants endemic to South America.[1] The species are collectively known as sun pitchers, based on the mistaken notion that the heli of Heliamphora is from the Greek helios, meaning "sun". In fact, the name derives from helos, meaning marsh, so a more accurate translation of their scientific name would be marsh pitcher plants.[2] Species in the genus Heliamphora are carnivorous plants that consist of a modified leaf form that is fused into a tubular shape. They have evolved mechanisms to attract, trap, and kill insects; and control the amount of water in the pitcher. At least one species (H. tatei) produces its own proteolytic enzymes that allows it to digest its prey without the help of symbiotic bacteria.
All Heliamphora species are herbaceous perennial plants that grow from a subterranean rhizome. Heliamphora species form stemless rosettes and leaf height ranges from a few centimeters (H. minor, H. pulchella) up to more than 50 cm (20 in) (H. ionasi, H. tatei).[1] Heliamphora possess tubular traps formed by rolled leaves with fused edges. Marsh pitcher plants are unusual among pitcher plants in that they lack lids (opercula), instead having a small "nectar spoon" on the upper posterior portion of the leaf. This spoon-like structure secretes a nectar-like substance, which serves as a lure for insects and small animals. Each pitcher also exhibits a small slit in its side that allows excess rainwater to drain away, similar to the overflow on a sink. This allows the marsh pitcher plants to maintain a constant maximum level of rainwater within the pitcher. The pitchers' inner surface is covered with downward-pointing hairs to force insects into the pitchers' lower parts.
Though often counted among the various carnivorous plants, with the exception of Heliamphora tatei, the vast majority of plants in the genus Heliamphora do not produce their own digestive enzymes (i.e. proteases, ribonucleases, phosphatases, etc.), relying instead on the enzymes of symbiotic bacteria to break down their prey.[5] They do, however, attract prey through special visual and chemical signals and trap and kill the prey through a typical pitfall trap. Field studies of H. nutans, H. heterodoxa, H. minor, and H. ionasi have determined that none of these species produce their own proteolytic enzymes.[6] H. tatei is one of the few species observed to produce both digestive enzymes and wax scales, which also aid in prey capture.[6] The pattern of carnivory among Heliamphora species, combined with habitat data, indicates that carnivory in this genus evolved in nutrient-poor locations as a means to improve absorption of available nutrients. Most Heliamphora typically capture ants, while H. tatei can capture and absorb nutrients from more flying insects. The carnivorous habit among these species is lost in low light conditions, which suggests that certain nutrient concentrations (specifically nitrogen and phosphorus) are only limiting during periods of fast growth under normal light conditions, thus rendering most of the carnivorous adaptations inefficient and not energy cost effective.[6]
All Heliamphora species are endemic to the tepuis of the Guiana Highlands and their surrounding uplands. Most are found in Venezuela, with a few extending into western Guyana and northern Brazil. Many of the tepuis have not yet been explored for Heliamphora, and the large number of species described in recent years suggests that many more species may be awaiting discovery.
The first species of the genus to be described was H. nutans, which George Bentham named in 1840 based on a specimen collected by Robert Hermann Schomburgk. This remained the only known species until Henry Allan Gleason described H. tatei and H. tyleri in 1931, also adding H. minor in 1939. Between 1978 and 1984, Julian Alfred Steyermark and Bassett Maguire revised the genus (to which Steyermark had added H. heterodoxa in 1951) and described two more species, H. ionasi and H. neblinae, as well as many infraspecific taxa. Various exploratory expeditions as well as review of existing herbarium specimens has yielded many new species in recent years, mainly through the work of a group of German horticulturalists and botanists (Thomas Carow, Peter Harbarth, Joachim Nerz and Andreas Wistuba).[7]
Heliamphora are regarded by carnivorous plant enthusiasts and experts as one of the more difficult plants to maintain in cultivation. The genus requires cool (the "highland" species) to warm (the "lowland" species) temperatures with a constant and very high humidity.[8] The highland species, which originate from high on the humid tepui mountaintops, include H. nutans, H. ionasi, and H. tatei. The lowland Heliamphora, such as H. ciliata and H. heterodoxa have migrated to the warmer grasslands at the foot of the tepuis.
Shredded, long-fibered, or live sphagnum moss is preferred as a soil substrate, often with added horticultural lava rock, perlite, and pumice. The substrate must always be kept moist and extremely well drained. Misting Heliamphora with purified water is often beneficial to maintain high humidity levels.
Propagation through division only has a limited rate of success, as many plants that are divided go into shock and eventually die. Germination of Heliamphora seed is achieved by scattering it on milled sphagnum moss and keeping in bright light and humid conditions. Seed germination begins after many weeks.
The genus Heliamphora contains the most species in the Sarraceniaceae family and is joined by the cobra lily (Darlingtonia californica) and the North American pitcher plants (Sarracenia spp.) in that taxon.
Twenty-three species of Heliamphora are currently recognized.[1] Unless otherwise stated, all information and taxonomic determinations in the table below are sourced from the 2011 work Sarraceniaceae of South America authored by Stewart McPherson, Andreas Wistuba, Andreas Fleischmann, and Joachim Nerz.[1] Authorities are presented in the form of a standard author citation, using abbreviations specified by the IPNI.[9] Years given denote the year of the species's formal publication under the current name, not the earlier basionym date of publication if one exists.
Species Authority Year Image Distribution Altitudinal distribution Heliamphora arenicola Wistuba, A.Fleischm., Nerz & S.McPherson[1] 2011 Venezuela Below 2000 m Heliamphora ceracea Nerz, Wistuba, Grantsau, Rivadavia, A.Fleischm. & S.McPherson[1] 2011 Brazil Highland Heliamphora chimantensis Wistuba, Carow & Harbarth[10] 2002
Venezuela 1900–2100 m Heliamphora ciliata Wistuba, Nerz & A.Fleischm.[11] 2009 Venezuela 900 m Heliamphora collina Wistuba, Nerz, S.McPherson & A.Fleischm.[1] 2011 Venezuela 1700–1825 m Heliamphora elongata Nerz[12] 2004 Venezuela 1800–2600 m Heliamphora exappendiculata (Maguire & Steyermark) Nerz & Wistuba[13] 2006 Venezuela 1700–2100 m Heliamphora folliculata Wistuba, Harbarth & Carow[14] 2001 
Venezuela 1700–2400 m Heliamphora glabra (Maguire) Nerz, Wistuba & Hoogenstrijd[15] 2006 Borderlands of Brazil, Guyana, and Venezuela 1200–2750 m Heliamphora heterodoxa Steyerm.[16] 1951 Guyana?, Venezuela 1200–2200 m Heliamphora hispida Nerz & Wistuba[17] 2000 Border between Brazil and Venezuela 1800–3014 m Heliamphora huberi A.Fleischm., Wistuba & Nerz[11] 2009 Venezuela 1850–2200 m Heliamphora ionasi Maguire[18] 1978 
Venezuela 1800–2600 m Heliamphora macdonaldae Gleason[19] 1931 Venezuela 1500–2300 m Heliamphora minor Gleason[20] 1939 
Venezuela 1650–2500 m Heliamphora neblinae Maguire[18] 1978 Border between Brazil and Venezuela 860–2200 m Heliamphora nutans Benth.[21] 1840 
Borderlands of Brazil, Guyana, and Venezuela 2000–2700 m Heliamphora parva (Maguire) S.McPherson, A.Fleischm., Wistuba & Nerz[1] 2011 Venezuela 1750–2200 m Heliamphora pulchella Wistuba, Carow, Harbarth & Nerz[22] 2005 
Venezuela 1850–2550 m Heliamphora purpurascens Wistuba, A.Fleischm., Nerz & S.McPherson[1] 2011 
Venezuela 2400–2500 m Heliamphora sarracenioides Carow, Wistuba & Harbarth[23] 2005 Venezuela 2400–2450 m Heliamphora tatei Gleason[19] 1931 
Venezuela 1700–2400 m Heliamphora uncinata Nerz, Wistuba & A.Fleischm.[11] 2009 Venezuela 1850 m A further two incompletely diagnosed taxa are known that may represent distinct species in their own right.[1]
Species Distribution Altitudinal distribution Heliamphora sp. 'Akopán Tepui' Venezuela 1800–1900 m Heliamphora sp. 'Angasima Tepui' Venezuela 2200–2250 mTwo varieties are currently recognised in the genus: H. minor var. pilosa and H. minor var. minor.[24] Additionally, an undescribed variant of H. pulchella , with traps lacking long retentive hairs is known from Amurí Tepui.[1]
There are currently four registered Heliamphora cultivars including Heliamphora 'Cyclops' (A. Smith), Heliamphora 'Patasola' (B. Tincher & J. Lei), Heliamphora 'Red Mambo' (F. Boulianne), and Heliamphora 'Scylla' (I. Bogdanow).[25][26]
At least eleven natural hybrids have been recorded:[1]
Additionally, putative complex hybrids occur on the Neblina Massif among populations of H. ceracea, H. hispida, H. neblinae, and H. parva.[1] Putative crosses between H. macdonaldae and H. tatei have also been recorded in the southern part of Cerro Duida.[27]
Closely related species tend to be geographically closely distributed. Major Heliamphora clades probably emerged through both geographical separation and dispersal in the Guiana Highlands during Miocene with more recent diversification driven by vertical displacement during the Pleistocene glacial-interglacial thermal oscillations.[28]
The genus Heliamphora (/hɛliˈæmfərə/ or /hiːliˈæmfərə/; Greek: helos "marsh" and amphoreus "amphora") contains 23 species of pitcher plants endemic to South America. The species are collectively known as sun pitchers, based on the mistaken notion that the heli of Heliamphora is from the Greek helios, meaning "sun". In fact, the name derives from helos, meaning marsh, so a more accurate translation of their scientific name would be marsh pitcher plants. Species in the genus Heliamphora are carnivorous plants that consist of a modified leaf form that is fused into a tubular shape. They have evolved mechanisms to attract, trap, and kill insects; and control the amount of water in the pitcher. At least one species (H. tatei) produces its own proteolytic enzymes that allows it to digest its prey without the help of symbiotic bacteria.
