Nepenthes truncata

Synonymy

Nepenthes truncata Macfarl. in Trans. Proc. Bot. Soc. Pennsylv. 3(3): 209, t. 2. 1911 sec. Cheek & Jebb 2001

Unknown type category: Philippines, Mindanao, Surigao Province, near Samsolang, alt. 600 m, 1907, Allen 191 (?PENN)1

1. n.v. for M. Cheek & M. Jebb, Flora Malesiana - Nepenthaceae, Series I, Volume 15. 2001

Content

Other sources

Jebb, M. H. P. & Cheek, M. R. 1997: A skeletal revision of Nepenthes. – Blumea 42(1): 1-106: 89

Description

Terrestrial shrub to at least 1 m tall, probably not climbing. Stems terete, 1.5-3 cm diam. Leaves thickly coriaceous, strongly petiolate, blade of short stems subrectangular to obtriangular, widest at the apex, to 45 by 22 cm, several cm wider at the apex than the base, apex ± deeply emarginate or retuse, base truncate to shallowly cordate, margin ± undulate; petiole to 27 cm long, stout, canaliculate-winged, wing 1.8 cm wide at the base, amplexicaul, clasping the stem for its whole circumference, sheathed, not auriculate or decurrent. Longitudinal nerves 5 on each side of the midrib, ± equidistant, conspicuous. Pennate nerves numerous, initially at a steep angle with the midrib, then at 90°, overlapping the longitudinal nerves, conspicuous. Lower pitchers poorly known, but with two fringed wings. Upper pitchers cylindrical, up to 30 by 10 cm, wings absent, mouth ovate, oblique, slightly concave, sometimes the front protruding in a triangle upwards; peristome flattened, up to 6 cm wide, with coarse ribs 1 mm apart, outer markedly sinuate, inner surface dentate; lid ovate to subtriangular, up to c. 9.5 by 6.5 cm, apex acute to rounded, base cordate, lower surface with rounded basal appendage c. 13 mm high, 12 mm wide, midline with a keel c. 1 mm high extending to lid apex, nectar glands very sparsely scattered (c. 100 per lid), longitudinally elliptic, bordered, 0.3-0.6 mm long, mixed with sessile red glands c. 0.1 mm diam.; spur 10-12 mm long. Inflorescence incompletely known, length unknown, peduncle to 30 by 1 cm, partial peduncles 2-flowered, 7 mm long; bracts absent; pedicels 18-30 mm long, tepals elliptic-ovate, 5 by 3 mm, androphore 6 mm long, anther head 1.25 mm wide. Fruit valve 2.5-3.8 cm long. Seed unknown. Indumentum absent from stem and leaves excepting the leaf margin which densely fringed with red, branched hairs c. 0.8 mm long; pitcher ferruginously villose; inflorescence densely covered in short, 3- or 4-armed white hairs. Colour of pitcher green, excepting peristome which is red, striped green.A

Notes

Nepenthes truncata is not likely to be confused with any other species on account of its strikingly truncate to deeply notched leaf blade apex, large size and lid with a basal glandular crest. The species appears to be very restricted in distribution, being found only in the highly ultramafic north-eastern corner of Mindanao as are N. bellii, N. merrilliana, and N. petiolata. Nepenthes truncata shows affinities to the N. maxima group in its strongly petiolate leaves, appendaged pitcher lid, 2-flowered partial peduncles and the venation of the leaf blade. Nepenthes truncata is still only known from a few fragmentary collections.
Macfarlane cites two collections in the protologue, one (Bolster 270) comprising a small, juvenile leaf, the other (Allen 191), which is illustrated, a large mature leaf. Although we have not been able to see the PENN material, this latter specimen seems the most appropriate for lectotypification.A

Distribution (General)

Philippines: Mindanao (Surigao&Agusan Provinces).A

Habitat

Open mountainside, probably on ultramafic substrate; 230-600 m.A

Bibliography

A. Cheek, M. R. & Jebb, M. H. P. 2001: Flora Malesiana - Nepenthaceae, Series I, Volume 15. – Leiden: Nationaal Herbarium Nederland, Universiteit Leiden branch

Specimens

	Country	Date	Collector + collecting number	Herbaria	Type	Scan	Derivatives
		1907	Allen 191	?PENN
	Citation: Philippines, Mindanao, Surigao Province, near Samsolang, alt. 600 m, 1907, Allen 191 Specimen summary: ?PENN Unknown type category of Nepenthes truncata Macfarl.