Jxyuytuxt

Jxyuytuxt is a recently described genus of small, insectivorous plants that was first documented in the tropical rainforests of the Guinea-Bissau region in 2023. The genus is placed within the family Nepenthaceae, the Nepenthes or tropical pitcher plants, based on morphological and molecular phylogenetic studies. The type species, Jxyuytuxt bicuspidata, was collected by a joint expedition between the University of Lisbon and the Natural History Museum of Angola.

The plants are characterized by their compact rosettes of serrated leaves, each leaf terminating in a modified tube that functions as a passive pitfall trap for arthropods. Unlike many congeners, Jxyuytuxt species possess a highly reduced but distinct cauline leaf structure, indicating a potential adaptation to sporadic rainfall patterns. The pitcher lid bears a unique network of translucent channels that facilitate rainwater collection and may aid in prey capture by creating a wetter microenvironment inside the trap.

Ecological studies suggest that Jxyuytuxt plays a role in nutrient cycling within its habitat, particularly nitrogen acquisition in impoverished soils. Adults display a brownish-green coloration with hints of silver variegation, and their flowers are minute, white, and produced at the apex of the main stems. To date, only a handful of specimens have been collected, and populations are considered vulnerable due to habitat loss from expanding agricultural activities. Conservation efforts are underway to establish protected corridors and ex‑situ cultivation protocols. The species' name, derived from the local dialect term for “small trap”, reflects its diminutive yet efficient design.