Which Nepenthes species is the only one native to India?

Nepenthes khasiana is the only Nepenthes species native to India.

This endangered tropical pitcher plant is endemic mainly to northeastern India, especially Meghalaya’s Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo Hills, with additional populations in Assam. Its species name refers to the Khasi Hills, where it was first studied and where much of its natural range remains concentrated.

Nepenthes khasiana grows as a climbing plant and captures insects in fluid-filled pitchers. It is unusual among Indian carnivorous plants because most Nepenthes species are native to Southeast Asia, Australia, or the western Pacific rather than the Indian mainland. The species has also attracted scientific interest because its pitchers can fluoresce blue under ultraviolet light, potentially helping attract prey.

A common mix-up is confusing “native to India” with “cultivated in India.” Other Nepenthes species may be grown in Indian collections, but N. khasiana is the sole species naturally occurring there. Habitat loss, coal-mining impacts, and collection have contributed to its endangered status.