Nepenthes lowii - Front Profile
Print Information
Photographs are printed on archival quality paper using professional inkjet printers. Prints have a UV resistant coating to ensure longevity. I print my photographs locally here in Denver, Colorado, and personally inspect each print before shipping.
Photo Information
Sony a6700 | 26MP | 4128 x 6192 px | 37mm | ƒ/4.5 | 1/160 sec | ISO 640
Mount Murud, Limbang Division, Sarawak, Malaysia | ~2050 meters ASL
Wednesday, July 22, 2026, ~1:00 PM MYT
Species Information
Described in 1851 by Hugh Low, Nepenthes lowii is an iconic highland Nepenthes species prized for its unique, woody toilet-shaped pitchers. Unlike a majority of Nepenthes species - Nepenthes lowii has transitioned away from traditional carnivory and is coprophagous, getting its nutrients not from insects but from the droppings of small tree shrews. The lid exudes a sweet substance called exudate that attracts tree shrews, which feed on it and deposit their droppings into the pitcher.. The wide mouth ensures all droppings are caught and washed into the chamber below with rain.
Photograph Information
Mt. Murud is the tallest peak in Sarawak, Borneo, at 2,423 meters (7,950 feet) above sea level. Several Nepenthes species call this mountain home, most notably Nepenthes tentaculata, Nepenthes veitchii, Nepenthes lowii, Nepenthes chaniana, Nepenthes mollis, and Nepenthes murudensis. This is a holy mountain, where smoking and alcohol are strictly prohibited. Every two years a large group of worshipers and porters from around the world gather and ascend the mountain to pray at Church Camp - a clearing in the pristine forest you reach after a day's hike.
Requiring a horrendously bumpy 13-hour drive in a 4x4 vehicle, this mountain is incredibly remote and difficult to reach. The climb is challenging, with steep, muddy terrain throughout and daily rain showers lasting hours. Church Camp is a surreal experience - after spending hours in ankle-deep mud, you enter a clearing and are greeted with dozens of wooden and metal huts, and a large church on a small hill. Thankfully - you spend the night here and can rest under a solid roof and a fire!
This photograph of Nepenthes lowii was taken at the rock garden, which took approximately 5 hours to reach from Church Camp. This exposed, rocky area has few trees and is perfect habitat for Nepenthes lowii - a slow-growing plant that grows best in full sun. Hundreds of massive, ancient specimens cover the slope of the mountain, with large flower spikes covering the eastern mountain slope for hundreds of meters in each direction.
After spending 3 days on this mountain, I made my way down where unfortunately, I slipped and sprained my wrist. While it made the rest of the climbs incredibly difficult, I was motivated by all the amazing Nepenthes species I had yet to see and photograph!
Print Information
Photographs are printed on archival quality paper using professional inkjet printers. Prints have a UV resistant coating to ensure longevity. I print my photographs locally here in Denver, Colorado, and personally inspect each print before shipping.
Photo Information
Sony a6700 | 26MP | 4128 x 6192 px | 37mm | ƒ/4.5 | 1/160 sec | ISO 640
Mount Murud, Limbang Division, Sarawak, Malaysia | ~2050 meters ASL
Wednesday, July 22, 2026, ~1:00 PM MYT
Species Information
Described in 1851 by Hugh Low, Nepenthes lowii is an iconic highland Nepenthes species prized for its unique, woody toilet-shaped pitchers. Unlike a majority of Nepenthes species - Nepenthes lowii has transitioned away from traditional carnivory and is coprophagous, getting its nutrients not from insects but from the droppings of small tree shrews. The lid exudes a sweet substance called exudate that attracts tree shrews, which feed on it and deposit their droppings into the pitcher.. The wide mouth ensures all droppings are caught and washed into the chamber below with rain.
Photograph Information
Mt. Murud is the tallest peak in Sarawak, Borneo, at 2,423 meters (7,950 feet) above sea level. Several Nepenthes species call this mountain home, most notably Nepenthes tentaculata, Nepenthes veitchii, Nepenthes lowii, Nepenthes chaniana, Nepenthes mollis, and Nepenthes murudensis. This is a holy mountain, where smoking and alcohol are strictly prohibited. Every two years a large group of worshipers and porters from around the world gather and ascend the mountain to pray at Church Camp - a clearing in the pristine forest you reach after a day's hike.
Requiring a horrendously bumpy 13-hour drive in a 4x4 vehicle, this mountain is incredibly remote and difficult to reach. The climb is challenging, with steep, muddy terrain throughout and daily rain showers lasting hours. Church Camp is a surreal experience - after spending hours in ankle-deep mud, you enter a clearing and are greeted with dozens of wooden and metal huts, and a large church on a small hill. Thankfully - you spend the night here and can rest under a solid roof and a fire!
This photograph of Nepenthes lowii was taken at the rock garden, which took approximately 5 hours to reach from Church Camp. This exposed, rocky area has few trees and is perfect habitat for Nepenthes lowii - a slow-growing plant that grows best in full sun. Hundreds of massive, ancient specimens cover the slope of the mountain, with large flower spikes covering the eastern mountain slope for hundreds of meters in each direction.
After spending 3 days on this mountain, I made my way down where unfortunately, I slipped and sprained my wrist. While it made the rest of the climbs incredibly difficult, I was motivated by all the amazing Nepenthes species I had yet to see and photograph!