biostudies-literatureLenz AKRoyal Society20220106https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9346345biostudies-literatureUnknown18(8)Carnivorous pitcher plants capture insects in cup-shaped leaves that function as motionless pitfall traps. <i>Nepenthes gracilis</i> evolved a unique 'springboard' trapping mechanism that exploits the impact energy of falling raindrops to actuate a fast pivoting motion of the canopy-like pitcher lid. We superimposed multiple computed micro-tomography images of the same pitcher to reveal distinct deformation patterns in lid-trapping <i>N. gracilis</i> and closely related pitfall-trapping <i>N. rafflesiana</i>. We found prominent differences between downward and upward lid displacement in <i>N. gracilis</i> only. Downward displacement was characterized by bending in two distinct deformation zones whist upward displacement was accomplished by evenly distributed straightening of the entire uppBiology lettersPitcher geometry facilitates extrinsically powered 'springboard trapping' in carnivorous <i>Nepenthes gracilis</i> pitcher plants.PMC9346345University Research Fellowship (UF150138)Enhancement Award (RGF/EA/180059)Bauer ULenz AKfalsePitcher geometry facilitates extrinsically powered 'springboard trapping' in carnivorous <i>Nepenthes gracilis</i> pitcher plants.Carnivorous pitcher plants capture insects in cup-shaped leaves that function as motionless pitfall traps. <i>Nepenthes gracilis</i> evolved a unique 'springboard' trapping mechanism that exploits the impact energy of falling raindrops to actuate a fast pivoting motion of the canopy-like pitcher lid. We superimposed multiple computed micro-tomography images of the same pitcher to reveal distinct deformation patterns in lid-trapping <i>N. gracilis</i> and closely related pitfall-trapping <i>N. rafflesiana</i>. We found prominent differences between downward and upward lid displacement in <i>N. gracilis</i> only. Downward displacement was characterized by bending in two distinct deformation zones whist upward displacement was accomplished by evenly distributed straightening of the entire upp2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Aug2025-05-29T19:47:27.98Z2025-05-29T19:47:27.98ZS-EPMC93463453592002710.1098/rsbl.2022.0106