Cambodian government rages at women picking rare 'penis-like plants'

The Ministry of the Environment of Cambodia complained on Facebook to the women who shot the video of picking 'a plant that looks like a human penis', saying, 'Because it is a rare plant, never pick it again.'

Ministry of Environment: Don't pick rare carnivorous Nepenthes holdanii plants --Khmer Times
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501074409/ministry-of-environment-dont-pick-carnivorous-nepenthes-holdanii-plants/

Stop picking carnivorous penis plants, Cambodian environmental officials plead | Live Science
https://www.livescience.com/carnivorous-penis-pitcher-plant-picked

On May 11, 2022, the Ministry of the Environment of Cambodia posted multiple images on Facebook that seemed to be screenshots of the video. The image shows a woman holding a penis-like plant in her hand, and the Ministry of the Environment said, 'What they are doing is wrong. Never again! Love nature. Thank you for your cooperation, but please do not waste it by harvesting it! '


A woman holding many 'penis-like plants' in her hand.

It looks like women gather to pick a plant like a penis.

Some media reports that this plant is a carnivorous plant endemic to Cambodia called ' Nepenthes holdenii (N. holdenii)', but according to the science media Live Science, it is actually a closely related species of N. holdenii. It is another carnivorous plant endemic to Cambodia called ' Nepenthes bokorensis (N. Bokorensis)'.

Although the two plants are similar in appearance and have close habitats, they are easily confused, but N. holdenii is more rare and only a few researchers know its habitat. Jeremy Holden, a freelance photographer who first discovered N. holdenii, said, 'N. holdenii grows only in multiple secret locations in the Cardamom Mountains , while N. bokorensis has undergone major development in recent years. It lives in the Phnom Bokor , which is underway and much more accessible. '

The video that is the source of the image posted by the Ministry of the Environment of Cambodia can be viewed on Newsflare, a website that sells videos for a fee.

Government warns women to stop playing with phallic-shaped'penis' flowers in Cambodia --Buy, Sell or Upload Video Content with Newsflare
https://www.newsflare.com/video/493741/government-warns-women-to-stop-playing-with-phallic-shaped-penis-flowers-in-cambodia

This is not the first time that the Ministry of the Environment of Cambodia has issued a statement saying 'Don't pick plants like penis', and a statement saying that N. holdenii and N. bokorensis should not be picked in July 2021. Is out.

មន្ត្រីជាន់ខ្ពស់ក្រសួងបរិស្ថានអំពាវនាវដល់ភ្ញៀវទេសចរចូលរួមថែរក្សាជីវៈចម្រុះនានានិងកុំបេះប្រភេទផ្ការុក្ខជាតិព្រៃដែលកំពុងរងគ្រោះដើម្បីរក្សាពូជឱ្យគង់វង្សនិងថែរក្សាសោភ័ណភាពរមណីយដ្ឋាន | ក្រសួងបរិស្ថាន
https://www.moe.gov.kh/index/32118

N. holdenii and N. bokorensis are species of Nepenthes that give off a sweet odor to attract prey and can survive in poorly nutritious soil by preying on live insects. According to plant illustrator François Mey, the inside of the tube of N. bokorensis has a sweet scent like candy.

While admitting that N. bokorensis's penis-like appearance is fun to look at, Mey points out that picking it puts rare endemic species at risk. 'It's good if you're just interested in taking a pose or taking a selfie with the plant. However, don't pick the tube as it will weaken the plant. I need a tube to take a selfie. '