Meghalaya's endangered pitcher plant may be one of the state's most celebrated botanical treasures, but a new study suggests its centuries-old medicinal legacy is at risk of disappearing as younger generations increasingly lose touch with traditional knowledge.

The endangered Nepenthes khasiana, a carnivorous pitcher plant endemic to Meghalaya, has long fascinated scientists and local communities alike. Beyond its unusual diet of insects, a groundbreaking new study has uncovered its vast potential as a reservoir of medicinal compounds, particularly in the fluid of its unopened pitchers.