Nepenthes nebularum
Synonymy
Nepenthes nebularum in Carniv. Pl. Newslett. 45(4): 133 (131-139, frontisp., fig. 1-3). 2016 [The name originates from the Latin word nebula, meaning clouds. Inflected in the case genitive, nebularum means “cloud loving” and “coming from the clouds”. This is in reference to the habitat in which the plants are growing that is frequently covered in fog.B]. sec. Mansell & Suarez 2016
- Type (designated by Mansell, G. & Suarez, W. 20161): Mindanao, Philippines, sub-adult pitcher and leaf from specimen grown from seed at Exotica Plants. Collected on 1 July 2016. Mansell NEB14, ex cult. (Holotype: BRI AQ522212)
Description
A short stemmed rosette to 60 cm diameter and up to 1.0 m long in low light, usually much shorter. Stems terete and up to 1.5 cm in diameter. Leaves of mature plants to 16.5 cm long by 15 cm wide, broadly truncate, apices cordate-truncate, tips decurrent to tendril, with sub- obtuse and cordate bases tapering down to the petiole. Longitudinal nerves conspicuous 4-6 on each side of midrib, not equidistant, closer together the further away they are from the midrib. Outermost veins not full length. Pennate nerves numerous web like, inconspicuous. Petioles shallowly canaliculate, from 12-15 cm long × 0.6-0.8 cm in diameter near stem. Bases clasping the stem tightly, the wings rolling evenly and tightly, one over the other, over the adaxial canal immediately after leaving the stem, continuing smoothly and tapering slightly to the leaf blade, where they adjoin together. Tendrils ‘D’ shaped in cross-section. At first glance, the tendril appears terete but on closer exami- nation, there are two raised ribs that run from the decurrent leaf tip and increase in size with the tendril thickness as they near the pitcher, where these continue and form the pitcher wings. Pitchers on mature plants are from 25-29 cm long × 7.5 cm at widest point, pubescent to villous with two distinct types/lengths of ferruginous to golden hairs. Pitcher cylindrical in most part, wider in the upper half slightly constricted in the middle, becoming elliptical in the lower part as it tapers to the tendril attachment, with two prominent fringed wings running +/-parallel up the front of the pitcher and terminating just below the peristome edge. Wings ca. 1.5-1.7 cm with fringe elements from 1.2-1.5 cm long. Mouth horizontal at the front angling gradually up at about 30° and then steeply forming a narrow neck on the pitcher. Hip on pitcher rear at the back of the mouth. Peristome 6-7 cm wide approximately midway around mouth. Flatly rounded down following the rim of the mouth at the front with a pronounced raised triangular fold at the front of the mouth. Rest of peristome flat- tened and flared, gently curving on the outer edge between several undulations forming sharp folds. Coarse ribs – sharp inverted ‘V’ in section, ca. 2 mm high at 3 mm spacing on the outside edge of the peristome, closer together as they enter the mouth, terminating in sharp tooth like projections extending into the mouth several millimeters. Lid ca.7.5 × 5.5 cm, held approximately horizontal, deltoid-ovate. Front rounded, base cordate. Margins slightly undulate. Top surface covered in short, golden/ferruginous hairs. Noticeably, 2 prominent rows start together from the lid attachment point, curving outwards each side of the indent created from the keel below, and curve back in, nearly meeting, at the front of the lid. There is a slight domed portion near the rear of the lid over the basal appendage below. The lid lower surface has a raised keel running longitudinally. It has a raised vertically flattened, rounded appendage at the rear which is in the domed portion. From about half way along the lid length the keel widens and flattens and the front part forks into a raised, partially hollowed, semi-cone like appendage and tapers down to a stop several millimeters from the front of the lid. The lid is folded down between this apical appendage and creates a pleated recess which can also be seen on the top of the lid as an elongated V-shaped depression. Small, rimmed nectar glands present and numerous on basal appendage and around its base in the recessed area. Slightly larger similar glands sparse around appendage base and continuing sparsely along the keel to the apex of the lid. Lid also covered, +/- evenly spaced, and with minute recessed glands. These do not seem to be nectar glands. Keel, basal appendage recess, and apical appendage all cream/yellow colored, the rest of the lid underside purple/maroon. Spur simple sometimes bifurcating at tip, 2-3 cm long. Female inflorescence up to 120 cm long, 1-flowered in the lower part and then the rest is 2-flowered, no bracts. Peduncles ca. 50 per inflorescence. Male inflorescence ca. 80 cm long, two-flowered, no bracts. Indumentum: Ferruginous dendritic hairs dense on pitcher and tendril ca. 0.25-0.5 mm. Tendril, pitcher lower part, pitcher bud, midrib under leaf and petiole wings densely covered also in tufted (caespitose) ferruginous hairs, sparse on rest of pitcher, ca. 2-3 mm long. Although these hairs are tufted the longest one(s) extend to this length others in tuft are shorter. Short ferruginous/golden hairs are present in a row ca. 3-4 mm running along the inside edge of the lid lower surface, possibly dendritic in shape, 0.1 mm. Leaf upper surface has simple white hairs ca. 3 mm on entire surface. Sparse underneath blade. Leaf margin is edged with ferruginous hairs ca. 1-2 mm.A
Conservation
Proposed to be classified as ‘Data Deficient’ under IUCN.A
Distribution (General)
Philippines, known from two disjunct mountains in south-eastern Mindanao.A
Habitat
Mainly epiphytic on tall trees in sub-montane forests at altitudes to 1,800 m a.s.l. Sometimes lithophytic on cliff faces.A
Specimens
| Country | Date | Collector + collecting number | Herbaria | Type | Scan | Derivatives | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mindanao, Philippines, sub-adult pitcher and leaf from specimen grown from seed at Exotica Plants. Collected on 1 July 2016. Mansell NEB14, ex cult. (Holotype: BRI AQ522212) | |||||||
| Citation: Mindanao, Philippines, sub-adult pitcher and leaf from specimen grown from seed at Exotica Plants. Collected on 1 July 2016. Mansell NEB14, ex cult. (Holotype: BRI AQ522212) | |||||||