Given the current pace of anthropogenic change, understanding plants’ evolutionary response to shifting abiotic conditions is vitally important. Schwallier et al. analyse the relationships between anatomical wood characters, habit, abiotic preference and phylogenetics.

An extensive anatomical study of the iconic carnivorous plant genus Nepenthes is presented in counterpoint with an evolutionary perspective through character mapping at the genus and Caryophylalles order level. Uncovering evidence of the conservative nature of many wood characters within the genus provides an important framework for future drought tolerance experiments and conservation of these spectacular carnivorous plants.