Cambodian Govt Takes Action as Video of Women Picking Phallic Pitcher Plant Goes Viral

The Cambodian government was not amused to see people picking a rare carnivorous pitcher plant that resembles male genitalia for funny photos

The Cambodian Ministry of Environment shared on social media its dismay that three women picked a type of carnivorous pitcher plant that resembles male genitalia for their social media photos. In their post, ministry officials asked the public to leave the rare plants alone.

The ministry called out the three women, pointing out that what they did was wrong and should not be done in the future.

In its statement, the ministry thanked the public for its interest in natural resources. However, the government authorities added that harvesting plants for fun will just waste valuable resources.

Nepenthes Bokorensis

As the post began to spread on social media, some identified the pitcher plant as the species Nepenthes holdenii.

Jeremy Holden, a freelance wildlife photographer who first discovered N. holdenii, then clarified that the pitcher plant species in the circulating post is indeed Nepenthes bokorensis.

François May, a botanical illustrator who described both species, also raised the same clarification.

Both N. holdenii and N. bokorensis are similar in appearance. The confusion between the two species stems from the fact that both occur on nearby mountain ranges. However, the former of the two species is rather rare and few researchers know where to find it.

Holden stated that N. Holdenii grows only in a few secret locations in the Cardamom Mountains of southwestern Cambodia. Bokorensis, on the other hand, is on the much more accessible Phnom Bokor. The said area has undergone extensive development in recent years.

Nepenthes plants survive in nutrient-poor soils and they supplement their diet with live insects. Their nectar and sweet scent attract prey. Mey pointed out that a bokorensis pitcher smells as sweet as candy.

The plant has modified leaves that resemble pitchers when mature. The nectar is located around the opening of the modified leaves where insects are attracted, fed, fall into the pitcher, and then in digestive fluids. The hungry plant absorbs the nutrients from the digested insect.

Nepenthes bokorensis has the most phallic resemblance when its leaves are still developing and the pitcher is still closed.

For the "Likes"

On May 11, a video circulated on the Internet showing three women picking pitchers of the photogenic plant. The Ministry of Environment responded with a post condemning the actions of the three women.

In July 2021, the government issued a warning against damaging the phallic and photogenic plants, asking tourists not to pick the pitcher plants as it could cause the plants to go extinct.

The expansion of agriculture has reduced the natural habitats of carnivorous pitcher plants in Cambodia. A study found that private lands, as well as some protected areas, have been developed to satisfy the growth of the tourism industry.

Mey pointed out that while people like to poke fun at the phallic appearance of the plants, picking them could threaten the survival of the species.

He added that the public can show their appreciation by taking selfies with the plants as long as they do not pick the pitchers, as this weakens the plant. He emphasized that the plant needs the pitchers for nutrition.