Nepenthes pudica
Synonymy
Nepenthes pudica in PhytoKeys 201: 79, figs. 1-5. 2022 [The specific epithet pudica (bashful, shy), is a feminine adjective and
alludes to the fact that lower pitchers remain concealed from direct viewB]. sec. Dančák & al. 2022
Description
Terrestrial climber producing climbing shoot and underground basal shoots. Climbing shoots up to c. 20 m long, stem glabrous, c. 4–6 mm thick, internodes c. 4 cm long. Underground basal shoots short, with reduced, partially or completely achlorophyllous leaves (nanophylls) bearing well-developed lower pitchers, not observed to branch or develop roots. Rosette leaves chartaceous, subsessile to shortly petiolate, oblanceolate, up to 16 cm long, up to 4 cm wide, apex subobtuse or acute to acuminate, base auriculate, shortly decurrent, glabrous on both sides but densely hairy with short brown hairs on the margins, tendril up to 16 cm long, uncoiled. Leaves of climbing shoots coriaceous, shortly petiolate, oblanceolate, up to 20 cm long, up to 4.5 cm wide, with 2–4 inconspicuous longitudinal veins on each side of the midrib, apex acute, base auriculate, shortly decurrent, glabrous on both sides, margins glabrous, tendril coiling. Rosette pitchers produced only briefly on aboveground rosettes, up to 9 cm high, up to 3 cm wide, thin-chartaceous, subcylindrical to ovoid in the lower part. Lower pitchers produced exclusively on underground basal shoots, 7–11 cm high, 3–5.5 cm wide, thin-coriaceous, becoming thicker-walled and markedly sturdier when produced at depth, arising abruptly from the uncoiled tendril, ventricose, broadly ovoid to globose in the lower half, infundibular above, clearly widening towards the mouth; eglandular zone of the inner surfaces extending from the mouth almost to the middle of the pitcher; inner surface near the mouth white, conspicuously red blotched, outer surface red-purple, faintly blotched, occasionally entirely off-white when produced at depth; two fringed wings running from the bottom of the pitcher to the mouth at the front; mouth round, rising at the rear into a short neck; peristome cylindrical in section, up to 2 mm wide, inner surface with distinct teeth up to 0.8 mm long, ribs up to 0.5 mm apart, up to 0.2 mm wide; lid broadly ovate, c. 20–30 mm long, c. 20 mm wide, with short spur; large, craterlike nectar glands ± elliptic in outline, up to 0.35 mm long, scattered densely in the middle of the lower surface. Upper pitchers rarely produced, up to 9 cm high, up to 2 cm wide, thin-coriaceous, arising gradually from the tendril, narrowly infundibular at the base, subcylindrical above; eglandular zone of the inner surfaces covering upper 1/3 of the pitcher; outer surface green, inner surface near the mouth yellowish; two fringed wings running from the middle of the pitcher to the mouth at the front; mouth round, with or without very short neck; peristome cylindrical, up to 1.5 mm wide, inner surface with very short teeth, ribs up to 0.25 mm apart, c. 0.1 mm wide; lid broadly ovate, 11–16 mm long, 9–13 mm wide, with curved spur; craterlike nectar glands as in lower pitchers, up to 0.3 mm long. Male inflorescence a raceme, peduncle c. 14 cm, rachis c. 13 cm, partial peduncles 2-flowered, bracts absent, pedicels 4–7 mm long, tepals elliptic, up to 6 by 3 mm; androphore c. 4 mm long, anther head 2.5 by 1.5 mm. Female inflorescence unknown. Infructescence racemose. Fruit a fusiform capsule, reddish brown at maturity, conspicuously glossy, valves of fruits c. 45 by 4 mm. Seeds 20–25 mm long.A
Conservation
Nepenthes pudica is endemic to Borneo. It is known from five closely situated sites, which represent a single location (IUCN 2022). Both the extent of occurrence (EOO) and minimal area of occupancy (AOO) of N. pudica are estimated to be less than 4 km2 . There is uncertainty as to whether the species occurs within Kayan Mentarang National Park, as its borders were not marked in the field at the time of discovery. However, the available maps suggest all the sites are actually lo cated outside the national park, thus legally unprotected. Due to its restricted distribu tion, small population size and possible habitat loss, the species qualifies to be assigned preliminary conservation status as critically endangered (CR), based on criteria B1 ab(iii) and D of the IUCN Red List categories and criteria (IUCN 2012).A
Distribution (General)
The species is known only from a few adjoining localities in the
western part of the Mentarang Hulu district of North Kalimantan, Indonesia. The exact locations have been withheld in order to prevent poaching by unscrupulous commercial collectors.A
western part of the Mentarang Hulu district of North Kalimantan, Indonesia. The exact locations have been withheld in order to prevent poaching by unscrupulous commercial collectors.A
Bibliography
A. Dančák, M., Majeský, Ľ., Čermák, V., Golos, M. R., Płachno, B. J. & Tjiasmanto, W. 2022: First record of functional underground traps in a pitcher plant: Nepenthes pudica (Nepenthaceae), a new species from North Kalimantan, Borneo. – PhytoKeys 201: 77-97. http://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.201.82872
Specimens
| Country | Date | Collector + collecting number | Herbaria | Type | Scan | Derivatives | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | 2012-02-02 | -empty team- s.n. | BO(2) |  | |||
| Citation: Indonesia, North Kalimantan: Malinau Regency, alt. c. 1110 m a.s.l., 2 Feb 2012, s.n. (BO BO1985839, BO BO1985840) Specimen summary: BO BO1985839 Isotype of Nepenthes pudica Dančák & Majeský Specimen summary: BO BO1985840 Holotype of Nepenthes pudica Dančák & Majeský | |||||||