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The genus Heliamphora contains approximately eight species of pitcher plants native 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. These pitcher plants are unusual in lacking lids (opercula), instead having a small hole in the side of the pitcher, which allows excess rainwater collecting in the pitcher to drain away, in a similar way to the overflow on a sink. The genus belong to the same family as the cobra plant and the North American trumpet pitcher plants, Sarraceniaceae.
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