Nepenthes ramispina

Synonymy

Nepenthes ramispina Ridl. in J. Fed. Mal. States Mus. 4: 59. 1909 sec. Cheek & Jebb 2001

Lectotype: Peninsular Malaysia, Selangor, top of Ulu Semangka, Aug 1904, H.N. Ridley 12064 (SING)
Isotype: Peninsular Malaysia, Selangor, top of Ulu Semangka, Aug 1904, H.N. Ridley 12064 (SING)

=Nepenthes gracillima var. major Ridl. in Fl. Malay Pen. 3: 22. 1924 syn. sec. Cheek & Jebb 2001

Unknown type category: Peninsular Malaysia, Pahang, G. Telom, H.N. Ridley s.n. (SING)

– "Nepenthes gracillima" sensu Danser 1928: 296, partim., f. 7 toto.2, non Ridl., p.p., err. sec. Cheek & Jebb 20011

1. Cheek, M. R. & Jebb, M. H. P. 2001: Flora Malesiana - Nepenthaceae, Series I, Volume 15. – Leiden: Nationaal Herbarium Nederland, Universiteit Leiden branch, 2. Danser, B. H. 1928: – Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg, sér. 3, 9

Content

Other sources

Jebb, M. H. P. & Cheek, M. R. 1997: A skeletal revision of Nepenthes. – Blumea 42(1): 1-106: 77

Ridley, H. N. 1924 – In: Fl. Malay Pen. 3: 22

Description

Terrestrial climber to 5 m tall. Stem terete, 0.3-0.6 cm diam. Leaves coriaceous, sessile, obovate-oblong, to 16 by 3.1 cm, apex acute to rounded, base clasping at least half stem, auriculate. Longitudinal nerves (0 or) 1-3 (or 4) on each side of the midrib in the outer half. Pennate nerves irregular. Lower pitchers shortly cylindric, 5-10 by 1-2.5 cm; slightly ventricose in lower half, cylindric and somewhat narrowed in the upper half, with two fringed wings, 0.3 cm wide, fringe elements to 0.5 cm long. Upper pitchers long cylindric, to 18(-24) by 2.5 cm, basal half gradually infundibulate, upper half gradually narrowing but broadening again at mouth, and usually broadest there; wings usually absent, or very much reduced; mouth ovate, oblique, slightly concave; peristome cylindrical, 0.5-1 mm wide, ribs 0.25 mm apart, inconspicuous, outer and inner edge entire; lid orbicular, often slightly broader than long, c. 3.2 by 3.8 cm, apex rounded, base cordate, lower surface lacking appendages, nectar glands circular, not bordered, 0.1-0.3 mm diam.; larger and denser near centre where 0.4 mm diam.; spur somewhat flattened at base, with 3-7 branches above, 3-10 mm long. Male inflorescence 20-36 by 1.8-2.8 cm; peduncle 8-11 cm long, 1.5-2 mm diam. at base; partial peduncles 1-flowered, rarely 2-flowered at base, c. 60; bracts filiform, (1-)2-3 mm long, spreading, inserted 0-2 mm from base of pedicel; pedicel 8-10.5 mm long; tepals elliptic, c. 4.5 by 2 mm; androphore 2.5-3 mm long; anther head 1.5-2 by 1.5-2 mm. Fruit valves 20 by 3 mm. Seed fusiform, 12 mm long, central body tuberculate. Indumentum on stems sparingly tomentose, upper and lower surface of midrib tomentose, hairs branched, 0.3-0.5 mm long; other parts subglabrous. Colour of lower pitchers maroon-green to deep blackish green, inner surface glaucous pale green; upper pitchers either purple-green throughout, peristome deep red or pale green, or pale green throughout, inner surface of pitcher glaucous pale green.A

Notes

Nepenthes ramispina is closely similar to N. gracillima. It can be diagnosed by its larger habit, broader, oblong-obovate leaves, the more slender and longer upper pitchers with long, fasciculated spurs (vs. simple and < 3 mm), the glands on the underside of the lid which are numerous, unbordered, and range from 0.1 mm near the margin to 0.4 mm wide near the middle (vs. lipped and evenly sized from 0.4-0.6 mm), and the pubescent stem and midrib (vs. glabrous to sparsely pubescent).
This species was synonymised with N. gracillima Ridl. by Danser, but we reinstated it in 1997 (Jebb & Cheek, Blumea 42 (1997) 77). The illustration of N. gracillima in Danser Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg III 9 (1928) f. 7 is of N. ramispina. From the other Peninsular Malaysian species it can be distinguished by its cylindrical, pubescent stems, slender pitchers and branched spur.A

Distribution (General)

Peninsular Malaysia: the western mountain ranges, Banjaran TitiwangsaA

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
		Ridley, H. N. s.n.	SING
Citation: Peninsular Malaysia, Pahang, G. Telom, H.N. Ridley s.n. Specimen summary: SING Unknown type category of Nepenthes gracillima var. major Ridl.
	1904-08	Ridley, H. N. 12064	SING(2)
Citation: Peninsular Malaysia, Selangor, top of Ulu Semangka, Aug 1904, H.N. Ridley 12064 Specimen summary: SING Isotype of Nepenthes ramispina Ridl.