The genus Heliamphora 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 produces its own proteolytic enzymes that allows it to digest its prey without the help of symbiotic bacteria.
Pico da Neblina is the highest peak in Brazil, 2,995.3 metres (9,827 ft) above sea level, in the Serra da Neblina, part of the Serra do Imeri, a section of the Guiana Highlands on the Brazil-Venezuela border. As determined by a border survey expedition in 1962, its summit lies just within Brazilian territory, at a horizontal distance of only 687 m (2,254 ft) from the Venezuelan border at Pico 31 de Março. It's a common misconception to refer to this mountain as the highest point in South America outside the Andes while ignoring the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Colombia.
Abolboda is a genus of flowering plants, traditionally and nowadays assigned to family Xyridaceae. It is native to South America and to the island of Trinidad, generally on marshy savanna.
Heliamphora ionasi is a species of marsh pitcher plant thought to be endemic to the plateau that lies between the bases of Ilu Tepui and Tramen Tepui in Venezuela. It produces the largest pitchers in the genus, which can be up to 50 cm in height.
Heliamphora neblinae is a species of marsh pitcher plant endemic to Cerro de la Neblina, Cerro Aracamuni and Cerro Avispa in Venezuela. It is one of the most variable species in the genus and was once considered to be a variety of H. tatei. It is unclear whether or not there is a consensus regarding its status as a species, with at least a few researchers supporting the taxonomic revision that would elevate both H. tatei var. neblinae and H. tatei f. macdonaldae to full species status.
Heliamphora tatei is a species of marsh pitcher plant endemic to Cerro Duida, Cerro Huachamacari and Cerro Marahuaca in Venezuela. It is closely related to H. macdonaldae, H. neblinae, and H. parva, and all three have in the past been considered forms or varieties of H. tatei. Like H. tatei, these species are noted for their stem-forming growth habit.
Chimantaea is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae.
Drosera meristocaulis is a perennial species in the carnivorous plant genus Drosera, the only member of the subgenus Meristocaulis. It is a small, rosette- and branched stem-forming sundew that has many morphological affinities to the Australian pygmy sundews. D. meristocaulis is wholly endemic to Pico da Neblina, an isolated mountain on the Brazil-Venezuela border.
Cerro de la Neblina, also known as Serra da Neblina in Brazil and Sierra de la Neblina in Venezuela, is a sandstone massif located in the northern Amazon Basin. It is a tilted, heavily eroded plateau, with a deep canyon in its central portion, drained by the Baria River.
The natural range of the carnivorous plant genus Heliamphora is restricted to the southern Venezuelan states of Amazonas and Bolívar, and to adjacent portions of northern Brazil and western Guyana, an area corresponding to the western part of the Guayana Shield. These plants are largely confined to the summits and foothills of the sandstone table-top mountains of the region, known as tepuis.
Achlyphila is a genus of plants in the Xyridaceae, first described as a genus in 1960. It contains only one known species, Achlyphila disticha, endemic to the Serranía de la Neblina National Park in the State of Amazonas in southern Venezuela, very close to the border with Brazil.
Pyrrorhiza is a genus of herbs in the family Haemodoraceae, first described as a genus in 1957. It contains only one known species, Pyrrorhiza neblinae, endemic to the Sierra de la Neblina in Amazonas State, Venezuela.
Kunhardtia is a group of plants in the family Rapateaceae described as a genus in 1958.
Stegolepis is a group of plants in the family Rapateaceae described as a genus in 1872.
Bassett Maguire was an American botanist, head curator of the New York Botanical Garden, and a leader of scientific expeditions to the Guyana Highlands in Brazil and Venezuela.
Tyleria is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Ochnaceae. It is also within the Sauvagesieae tribe.
Maguireothamnus is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Rubiaceae.
Roraimaea is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Gentianaceae.
Koyamaea is a monotypic genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Cyperaceae. The only species is Koyamaea neblinensisW.W.Thomas & G.Davidse.
Maguireanthus is a monotypic genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Melastomataceae. The only species is Maguireanthus ayangannaeWurdack.
