Nepenthes klossii
Synonymy
- Lectotype (designated by Jebb, M.H.P. & Cheek, M.R. 1997: 541): Irian Jaya, Utakwa expedition to Mt Carstensz, Camp VIb, 26 Jan 1913, C.B. Kloss s.n. (SING)
Description
Terrestrial shrub or climber (?) to unknown height. Stem triangular, c. 1 cm diam. with prominent axillary buds. Leaves coriaceous, petiolate, those of the climbing stems lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, 18-25 by 6.5-9 cm, apex obtuse, base gradually or abruptly tapering; petiole winged, c. 6 cm long, wings 5 mm broad, clasping stem by about 1/2 its circumference, decurrent as two ridges to 1/2 way down the internode. Longitudinal nerves obscure, 3 or more on each side of the midrib, in the outer 1/3 or 1/4 of the leaf blade. Pennate nerves inconspicuous. Lower pitchers unknown. Upper pitchers abruptly originating from the tendril, infundibuliform in the lower part, cylindrical above, c. 20 by 5 cm, with two prominent ribs over the whole length, mouth suborbicular, oblique to vertical, facing forward, acuminate and nearly horizontal towards lid; peristome curved, 3-5 mm wide, ribs 0.3-0.7 mm apart, outer and inner edges entire; lid suborbicular, c. 5 by 5 cm, apex rounded, slightly cordate at the base, with 2 appendages on the under side, basal appendage laterally flattened, slightly recurved or triangular, c. 1 by 1 cm, glandular, inserted along a midline ridge 1-2 mm high that extends to the poorly defined, inconspicuous, non-glandular apical appendage, nectar glands orbicular, bordered, 0.4-0.7 mm diam., densely scattered, larger (2(-3) mm long) and longitudinally elliptic along the midline; spur entire, 8-10 mm long. Male inflorescences unknown. Infructescence c. 32 cm long; peduncle 18 cm long; partial peduncles 2-fruited (rarely 1- or 3-fruited); pedicels c. 8 mm long; tepals oblong, 3 by 1 mm. Fruit c. 15 mm long. Seeds unknown. Indumentum of orange-brown dense long, simple or slightly branched hairs to 1.5 mm long and of short spreading stellate hairs, densest on young parts, lower leaf blade, above and below midrib, pitcher and infructescence, including fruit. Colour of lid deep purple, remainder of pitcher probably reddish.A
Notes
The lid appendages, leaf venation and 2-flowered partial peduncles of N. klossii show that it is closely related to the highly variable N. maxima. Eyma’s collection of this species from the Wissel Lakes area, indicate that N. klossii and N. maxima may well grow together (Eyma 4893 = N. klossii, Eyma 4894 = N. maxima). The distinction between the two species is slight, and lies in the denser pubescence, thicker leaf blade, and the forward-directed mouth of N. klossii, and, in the absence of the evidence of their sympatry we would be less inclined to recognise N. klossii.
Only three collections of this species have been made, the Kloss collections from the Nassau Mts, and Eyma’s Wissel Lakes collection. Eyma’s collection (4893) is undoubtedly a good match for Danser’s specimen (Kloss s.n., BO) and shows features which are obscure on the Kloss specimen (due to the manner in which they have been pressed and mounted), notably the distinctive ‘hooded’ appearance of the pitcher mouth, and the presence of 2 crest-like appendages on the underside of the lid as opposed to the single crest observed by Danser.A
Only three collections of this species have been made, the Kloss collections from the Nassau Mts, and Eyma’s Wissel Lakes collection. Eyma’s collection (4893) is undoubtedly a good match for Danser’s specimen (Kloss s.n., BO) and shows features which are obscure on the Kloss specimen (due to the manner in which they have been pressed and mounted), notably the distinctive ‘hooded’ appearance of the pitcher mouth, and the presence of 2 crest-like appendages on the underside of the lid as opposed to the single crest observed by Danser.A
Distribution (General)
New Guinea: Irian Jaya (Nassau Mts and Wissel Lakes).A
Habitat
Unknown, possibly grassland; 1000-2000 m.A
Specimens
| Country | Date | Collector + collecting number | Herbaria | Type | Scan | Derivatives | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1913-01-26 | Kloss, C.B. s.n. | SING |  | ||||
| Citation: Irian Jaya, Utakwa expedition to Mt Carstensz, Camp VIb, 26 Jan 1913, C.B. Kloss s.n. Specimen summary: SING Lectotype of Nepenthes klossii Ridl. | |||||||