Nepenthes palawanensis
Synonymy
Nepenthes palawanensis in McPherson, Carniv. Pl. Hab. 2: 1332 (-1339; figs. 783-789). 2010 [The species epithet commemorates the fact that this spectacular species is endemic to Palawan.B]. sec. McPherson 2011 wfo-0000746843
- Holotype (designated by McPherson & al. 20101): Philippines, Palawan Island, Municipality of Narra, Sultan Peak, summit ridge SE of the mountaintop, alt. 1230 m, S. R. McPherson SRM 0003 (PPC)
- 1. McPherson, S. R., Cervancia, J., Jaunzems, M., Fleischmann, A.S., Mey, F. S., Gironella, E. P. & Robinson, A.S. 2010: Nepenthes palawanensis (Nepenthaceae), a new pitcher plant species from Sultan Peak, Palawan Island, Philippines, pp. 1332-1339. – In: McPherson, S. R., Carnivorous plants and their habitats 2. – Poole: Redfern Natural History Productions
Description
Terrestrial upright to scrambling unbranched shrub, to 1 m tall.
Stem: Cylindrical, 2.5-3.5 cm in diameter, internodes 2.3-4.5 cm long. Climbing stems unknown.
Leaves: Petiolate, lamina elliptic to oblong, 20-45 cm long and 6-15 cm wide, apex obtuse or occasionally retuse, not peltate, base shortly attenuate, sessile or sub-petiolate, amplexicaul, clasping the stem by two thirds to four-fifths its circumference, decurrent along internode for 2-3 cm. Tendril to 60 cm long, uncoiled.
Lower Pitchers: up to 34 cm tall and 13 cm wide, infundibular in the lower half, cylindrical towards the pitcher opening with little to no constriction. Wings variable, up to 19 mm wide with narrow filaments up to 16 mm long, or reduced to ribs throughout. Pitcher opening oblique, oval or circular, up to 14 cm wide, elevated towards the lid, elongated into a neck. Peristome cylindrical, occasionally slightly flattened, to 24 mm wide, ribs up to 3 mm high, spaced up to 3 mm apart, forming elongated teeth on the inner margin of the peristome up to 6 mm long. Inner surface glandular. Peristome expanding below the lid and up to 3 cm wide. Lid held horizontally, elliptic, with a cordate base, 14 cm long and 6.5 cm wide. No appendage or keel. Spur substantial, up to 14 mm long and up to 5 mm wide at base.
Upper Pitchers: Unknown from type locality.
Inflorescence: A raceme. Male inflorescence up to 70 cm long, 1 cm wide at base, with unusual, ciliate, decurrent bract-like outgrowths of the rachis. Pedicels one-flowered, occasionally two-flowered at base. Female inflorescence up to 115 cm long, 1 cm wide at base. Pedicels one-flowered, occasionally two-flowered at base. Fruit to 8 mm long, seeds filiform, c. 7 mm long, pale brown.
Indumentum: Present on underside of midrib, floral organs and leaf margins, consisting of simple, densely arranged, caducous hairs to 1 mm long, reddish-copper in colour, changing to silvery white. Hairs up to 4 mm long on tendrils.
Colour: Foliage green with dark red or purple colouration present on the adaxial surface of the midrib. Pitchers may be green, mottled red or purple on the interior and exterior, with bands of purple or black on the peristome; or, the pitchers may be entirely orangey-red on the exterior, yellowish green with dark purple blotches on the interior, and the peristome striped with bands of colour.A
Stem: Cylindrical, 2.5-3.5 cm in diameter, internodes 2.3-4.5 cm long. Climbing stems unknown.
Leaves: Petiolate, lamina elliptic to oblong, 20-45 cm long and 6-15 cm wide, apex obtuse or occasionally retuse, not peltate, base shortly attenuate, sessile or sub-petiolate, amplexicaul, clasping the stem by two thirds to four-fifths its circumference, decurrent along internode for 2-3 cm. Tendril to 60 cm long, uncoiled.
Lower Pitchers: up to 34 cm tall and 13 cm wide, infundibular in the lower half, cylindrical towards the pitcher opening with little to no constriction. Wings variable, up to 19 mm wide with narrow filaments up to 16 mm long, or reduced to ribs throughout. Pitcher opening oblique, oval or circular, up to 14 cm wide, elevated towards the lid, elongated into a neck. Peristome cylindrical, occasionally slightly flattened, to 24 mm wide, ribs up to 3 mm high, spaced up to 3 mm apart, forming elongated teeth on the inner margin of the peristome up to 6 mm long. Inner surface glandular. Peristome expanding below the lid and up to 3 cm wide. Lid held horizontally, elliptic, with a cordate base, 14 cm long and 6.5 cm wide. No appendage or keel. Spur substantial, up to 14 mm long and up to 5 mm wide at base.
Upper Pitchers: Unknown from type locality.
Inflorescence: A raceme. Male inflorescence up to 70 cm long, 1 cm wide at base, with unusual, ciliate, decurrent bract-like outgrowths of the rachis. Pedicels one-flowered, occasionally two-flowered at base. Female inflorescence up to 115 cm long, 1 cm wide at base. Pedicels one-flowered, occasionally two-flowered at base. Fruit to 8 mm long, seeds filiform, c. 7 mm long, pale brown.
Indumentum: Present on underside of midrib, floral organs and leaf margins, consisting of simple, densely arranged, caducous hairs to 1 mm long, reddish-copper in colour, changing to silvery white. Hairs up to 4 mm long on tendrils.
Colour: Foliage green with dark red or purple colouration present on the adaxial surface of the midrib. Pitchers may be green, mottled red or purple on the interior and exterior, with bands of purple or black on the peristome; or, the pitchers may be entirely orangey-red on the exterior, yellowish green with dark purple blotches on the interior, and the peristome striped with bands of colour.A
Distribution (General)
Philippines, Palawan, Sultan Peak; 1100 - 1236 m a.s.l.A
Habitat
Nepenthes palawanensis grows exclusively in exposed areas of upper montane scrub above 1100 m on the summit and summit ridge of Sultan Peak. It is absent from the shrubby, montane forest that covers the slopes of the mountain below the summit region and does not occur in dense vegetation over 1 m high on the summit. All populations occur in exposed, sunny habitat.A
Bibliography
A. McPherson, S. R., Cervancia, J., Jaunzems, M., Fleischmann, A.S., Mey, F. S., Gironella, E. P. & Robinson, A.S. 2010: Nepenthes palawanensis (Nepenthaceae), a new pitcher plant species from Sultan Peak, Palawan Island, Philippines, pp. 1332-1339. – In: McPherson, S. R., Carnivorous plants and their habitats 2. – Poole: Redfern Natural History Productions
Specimens
| Country | Date | Collector + collecting number | Herbaria | Type | Scan | Derivatives | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philippines | McPherson, S. R. SRM 0003 | PPC |  | ||||
| Citation: Philippines, Palawan Island, Municipality of Narra, Sultan Peak, summit ridge SE of the mountaintop, alt. 1230 m, S. R. McPherson SRM 0003 Specimen summary: PPC Holotype of Nepenthes palawanensis S.McPherson, Cervancia, Chi.C.Lee, Jaunzems, Mey & A.S.Rob. | |||||||