Nepenthaceae
A monotypic order of curious shrubs or sub-shrubs, inhabiting tropical Asia, Madagascar, the Seychelles, tropical Australia, New Caledonia, and especially the Malayan Archipelago. Flowers greenish (when dry, dark brown or purple), small, dioecious. Seeds at first floating, and imbibing the water; afterwards sinking to the bottom, where they germinate. "Leaves alternate; petiole winged at the base, the midrib prolonged at the top, and curved or spirally twisted, and terminating in a second foliaceous expansion, which is hollowed like an urn (the pitcher), to the opening of which is fitted a sort of lid, attached as by a hinge, and capable of being lowered or raised, so that the pitcher is sometimes closed, sometimes open. It is often found to contain a watery liquid before the raising of the lid" (Le Maout and Decaisne). Nepenthes--the only genus--comprises upwards of thirty species.