Nepenthes ventricosa

Nepenthes ventricosa

Synonymy

Nepenthes ventricosa Blanco, Fl. Filip., ed. 1: 807. 1837 sec. Cheek & Jebb 2001
    • Type: Philippines, Luzon, Ilocos Prov., Piddig, F. M. Blanco (PNH†)

Other sources

Hooker, J.D. 1873 – In: de Candolle, A. L. P. P., Prodromus 17. – Paris: Masson: 100
Macfarlane, J. M. 1908: pp. 1-92. – In: Engler, A., Pflanzenreich IV. 111 (Heft 36): 54
Beccari, O. 1886: Malesia 3. – Firence, Roma: Fratelli Bencini: 4
Beck von Mannagetta und Lerchenau, G. 1895: Die Gattung Nepenthes. – Wiener Ill. Gart.-Zeitung 20: 96-107, 141-150, 182-192, 217-229: 149
Blume, C. L. 1852: – Mus. Bot. Lugd.-Bat. 2: 10
Burbidge, F. W. T. 1904: – Flora & Sylva 2: 114
Jebb, M. H. P. & Cheek, M. R. 1997: A skeletal revision of Nepenthes. – Blumea 42(1): 1-106: 90

Description

Climber, sometimes epiphytic, to at least 2 m tall. Stems winged to strongly triangular, 3.5-9 mm diam. Leaves chartaceous to thinly coriaceous, sessile, rosette leaves unknown, stem leaves with blade oblanceolate or narrowly oblong, 15-25 by 2-3 cm, apex acute, inconspicuously peltate, base gradually tapered, clasping the stem for 2/3 its circumference, decurrent, prominently winged to the node below or for only ± 1 cm. Longitudinal nerves 3-6 on each side of the midrib, evenly scattered. Pennate nerves oblique, obscure. Lower pitchers rare, as the upper but with tendril in front. Upper pitchers hourglass-shaped, 9-16 by 3-8 cm, basal half obliquely ellipsoid, apical half broadly infundibular, up to twice as broad as basal portion, waist constriction central, 1/2-1/3 the width of the base or apex, fringed wings absent, reduced to ridges < 1 mm wide; mouth circular to shortly elliptic, horizontal or slightly oblique, straight; peristome broad, subcylindrical, 10-25 mm wide, ribs coarse, 1-2 mm apart, outer edge with 4-6 slight undulations on each side, each protruding 3-4 mm, inner edge shortly dentate; lid membranous, narrowly elliptic, 4-6 by 1.8-2.25 cm, apex rounded, base rounded, lower surface lacking appendages, nectar glands absent from a band c. 6 mm wide along the midline, pit-like or slightly bordered, mostly orbicular 0.4-0.5 mm diam., less usually transversely elliptic, 0.8 mm long; spur flattened, 9 mm long, entire. Male inflorescence 28-60 cm long; peduncle 11-21 cm long; partial peduncles 70-180, 1-flowered; bracts absent; pedicels 5-10 mm long; tepals elliptic, 2-3.5 by 1.5 mm; androphore 3-3.5 mm long; anther head 1.5 mm wide. Fruit valves 25-32 mm long. Seed unknown. Indumentum absent from stems and leaves; pitchers with inconspicuous appressed scattered, simple reddish hairs 0.5 mm long; inflorescence as the pitchers, but densely hairy. Colour of pitchers uniformly creamish white, peristome red, inner surface yellowish.A

Notes

Nepenthes ventricosa is unlikely to be confused with the only other Luzon Nepenthes, N. alata. The angular stems and white, hourglass-shaped, upper pitchers of N. ventricosa make it easily distinguished. Nepenthes ventricosa is closely related to N. burkei of Mindoro and N. sibuyanensis of Sibuyan, but neither have the white, highly constricted pitchers of N. ventricosa.
Blanco’s types were destroyed at PNH, but duplicates may exist elsewhere (see notes under N. alata).A

Distribution (General)

Philippines: Luzon.A

Habitat

Low mossy oak forest; 1200-1500 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

CountryDateCollector + collecting numberHerbariaTypeScanDerivatives
Blanco, F. M.PNH†
Citation: Philippines, Luzon, Ilocos Prov., Piddig, F. M. Blanco

Specimen summary: PNH†
Type for: Nepenthes ventricosa Blanco