本属包含23种原产于南美洲的瓶子草植物，这类食虫植物一般被称作太阳瓶子草，然而这样的称呼是误用其属名前缀"heli"而来。希腊文中helio意指太阳，但其本属名之前缀出自拉丁文"helos"，意为「沼泽」，所以Heliamphora应翻译为沼泽瓶子草，而非太阳瓶子草。本属物种皆为食虫植物，由特化为管状的叶子构成，具有能避免满水的构造，同时能吸引、捕捉并杀死昆虫。本属中至少有一种 (Heliamphora tatei) 能自行制造蛋白酶，不需共生微生物的参与便能消化其猎物。

The genus Heliamphora (/hɛliˈæmfərə/ or /hiːliˈæmfərə/; Greek: helos "marsh" and amphoreus "amphora") contains 23 species of pitcher plants endemic to South America. The species are collectively known as sun pitchers, based on the mistaken notion that the heli of Heliamphora is from the Greek helios, meaning "sun". In fact, the name derives from helos, meaning marsh, so a more accurate translation of their scientific name would be marsh pitcher plants. Species in the genus Heliamphora are carnivorous plants that consist of a modified leaf form that is fused into a tubular shape. They have evolved mechanisms to attract, trap, and kill insects; and control the amount of water in the pitcher. At least one species (H. tatei) produces its own proteolytic enzymes that allows it to digest its prey without the help of symbiotic bacteria.