Triphyophyllum

Triphyophyllum is a carnivorous plant genus with only one species Triphyophyllum peltatum. It is native to tropical western Africa, in Sierra Leone and Liberia, growing in tropical rainforests.

Triphyophyllum
Triphyophyllum peltatum.jpg
Scientific classification e
Unrecognized taxon (fix): Dioncophyllaceae
Genus: Triphyophyllum
Airy Shaw
Species:
T. peltatum
Binomial name
Triphyophyllum peltatum
(Hutch. & Dalz.) Airy Shaw
Triphyophyllum distribution.svg
Triphyophyllum distribution
Synonyms
  • Dioncophyllum peltatum
    Hutch. & Dalz.
  • Ouratea glomerata
    A.Chev.

It is a liana, with a three-stage lifecycle, each with a different shaped leaf, as indicated by its Greek name. In the first stage, T. peltatum has simple lance-like leaves, and looks nondescript. It then develops long, glandular leaves, like those of the related Drosophyllum. These sticky leaves capture insects. The plant then enters its adult liana form, with short non-carnivorous leaves on a long twining stem.

T. peltatum is cultivated in only three botanical gardens: Abidjan, Bonn, and Würzburg. It is extremely rare in private collections.