Evergreen leaves appear from underground rhizomes, are simple with an entire leaf blade, and lie close to the ground.

The pitchers develop a dark red colour in high light levels but stay green in shadier conditions.

The lid over the entrance, the operculum, prevents rainwater entering the pitcher and thus diluting the digestive enzymes inside.

Occasionally, there are intermediate forms of leaves with only partially developed traps, lacking the front part.

[6] All leaves grow alternating, they are petiolate, with single-celled fine hairs and beset with numerous sessile nectaries.

[7] A lid over the opening, an outgrowth of the petiole, spans the interior and protects it from rain, which could cause the pitcher fluid to overflow and wash out dead prey.

The translucent sections appear window-like, through which trapped flying insects try to escape, only to fall back into the pitchers afterwards.

[9] The inwardly overhanging, thickened edge of the trap is surrounded by large, inward-pointing, claw-like teeth in between nectar glands.

Immediately adjacent to this is an area of short, downward-facing papillae that make it difficult to climb back up.

In the lower part of the trap there are two kidney-shaped, red-coloured spots that are densely covered with larger glands.

The spadiciform[8] leathery, hairy follicle fruits and contain one or two brown, ovoid seeds with a membranous testa and rich, granular endosperm.

Botanical specimens were first collected during the visit of HMS Investigator to King George Sound in December 1801 and January 1802.

Mr Good went in search of the pitcher plant wch Messrs Bauer & Westall had found yesterday in flower.

"[10]This represents the earliest documentary reference to this species; and although not entirely unambiguous as to the first collection, it is usually taken as evidence that the plant was discovered by Ferdinand Bauer and William Westall on 1 January 1802.

The following year, further specimens were collected by Jean Baptiste Leschenault de la Tour, botanist to Nicolas Baudin's expedition.

[14] The monotypic arrangement of the family and genus is indicative of a high degree of endemism, one of four such species of the region.

Its habitat is on moist peaty sands found in swamps or along creeks and streams, but it is tolerant of less damp situations.

Its population in the wild has been reduced by habitat destruction and overcollecting; it is therefore classified as vulnerable species (VU A2ac; C2a(i)) by the IUCN.

[4] The larvae of Badisis ambulans, an ant-like wingless micropezid fly, develop inside the pitchers.

A study published in 1985 counted 166 different species, including 82% protozoa, 4% oligochaeta and nematodes, 4% arthropods (copepods, diptera and mites), 2% rotifers, 1% tardigrades and 7% others (bacteria, fungi, algae).

[17] The plant is endemic to the southwest of Australia, in the coastal area northeast of Albany in a zone of around 400 kilometres (250 mi) between Augusta and Cape Riche.

It is mainly found in cushions of Sphagnum on consistently moist but well-drained, acidic peat soils over granite, in seeping areas, along riverbanks or under so-called tussocks, grasses that grow in clumps (z. B.

It is commonly grown in a mixture of sphagnum peat moss, perlite, and sand, a reasonable humidity (60–80%) is also preferred.

[22][23] Its carnivorous and non-carnivorous leaves have been compared to identify genetic differences associated with key features relating to the attraction of prey and their capture, digestion and nutrient absorption.

[6] Due to the form of the anther La Billardière uses the Greek term kefalotus ("to have a head") for the genus.