Nepenthes benstonei

Synonymy

Nepenthes benstonei C.Clarke in Sandakania 13: 80, f. 1, 2 & 3. 1999 [Nepenthes benstonei is named in honour of Ben Stone, who dedicated his life to South-East Asian botany.C]. sec. Cheek & Jebb 2001

Isotype: Malaysia, Kelantan, Bukit Bakar, alt. 530 m, 24 Jul 1998, C.M. Clarke s.n. (BO)1
Isotype: Malaysia, Kelantan, Bukit Bakar, alt. 530 m, 24 Jul 1998, C.M. Clarke s.n. (K)1
Holotype: Malaysia, Kelantan, Bukit Bakar, alt. 530 m, 24 Jul 1998, C.M. Clarke s.n. (KEP)1
Isotype: Malaysia, Kelantan, Bukit Bakar, alt. 530 m, 24 Jul 1998, C.M. Clarke s.n. (L)1
Isotype: Malaysia, Kelantan, Bukit Bakar, alt. 530 m, 24 Jul 1998, C.M. Clarke s.n. (SAN)1
Isotype: Malaysia, Kelantan, Bukit Bakar, alt. 530 m, 24 Jul 1998, C.M. Clarke s.n. (SING)1

1. n.v. for M. Cheek & M. Jebb, Flora Malesiana - Nepenthaceae, Series I, Volume 15. 2001

Content

Description

Terrestrial climber up to 10 m tall. Stem terete, 0.4-0.8 cm diam., internodes 5-20 cm long on climbing stems, up to 1 cm on rosettes. Leaves of the rosettes and short shoots broadly linear-lanceolate to slightly spathulate, sessile to sub-petiolate; lower leaf blades 25-30(-60) by 4-5(-9) cm, upper blades to 20 by 4.5 cm; apex rounded to acute, base gradually tapering throughout, to a broad amplexicaul sheath clasping the stem for 1/2-3/4 of its circumference, the margins decurrent in tapering wings 1-3 cm long; longitudinal veins 3-5 on each side, in outer 1/2 of blade; pennate veins inconspicuous, forming a network with the longitudinal veins. Lower pitchers distinctly hipped, ovoid in the lower half, cylindrical in the upper part; to 15 by 5 cm; with two fringed wings to 4 mm wide, fringe elements 4-6 mm long, 4-6 mm apart; mouth round to ovate, oblique; peristome cylindrical, 3-6 mm wide, ribs to 0.1 mm wide, 0.3 mm apart, outer edge entire, inner edge with short, broad teeth to 0.1 mm long, interspersed with circular, deeply sunken glands about 0.2 mm wide; lid broadly ovate, to 4 by 3.5 cm, apex rounded to obtuse, base cordate, underside with a pronounced keel near the base, to 1 cm long, this keel densely covered with larger elliptical glands to 0.3 by 0.1 mm, spur simple or bifurcate, to 12 mm long. Upper pitchers as the lower, but narrower, to 15 by 3 cm; the cylindrical upper part abruptly contracted below the peristome; wings reduced to prominent ridges 1 mm broad; peristome somewhat flattened; spur entire, to 5 mm long. Inflorescences usually 2 or 3 produced sequentially at the apex of the stem, separated by 1 or 2 very short internodes, the intervening leaves very short, broadly linear and not bearing pitchers. Male inflorescence to 50 by 4 cm; peduncle terete, to 9-20 cm long; partial peduncles 2-flowered, without bracts, to 10 mm long, pedicels to 9 mm; tepals ovate, 4 by 3.5 mm, apex rounded to acute; androphore 4 mm long, anther head 1.5 by 1.5 mm. Female inflorescence as male, but partial peduncles 1-flowered in upper half; ovary to 16 mm long. Indumentum mostly persistent on vegetative parts, caducous on the inflorescence; simple white hairs to 1 mm long; sparse on stem, leaf bases and on upper leaves, denser and longer (2-3 mm) on the surface of lower leaves; short, branched, reddish brown hairs to 1 mm long forming a dense fringe to lower leaf margins, sparser on upper leaves and on the pitcher surface; inflorescence with both hair types. Colour of the living specimens variable: leaves and stems dull green with a white-blue waxy sheen; lower pitchers varying from green through yellow to brick red throughout, with red blotches on the inner surface and underside of lid, the peristome usually yellow-white, often with thin red bands; upper pitchers often light yellow-green throughout, sometimes with red blotches on the inner surface and underside of the lid, and with red bands on the peristome; inflorescence rhachis fuscous, tepals green, androphore maroon, anther head yellow.A

Notes

Nepenthes benstonei differs from N. sanguinea in its cylindrical (vs. angular) stem, the longer, narrower leaves which taper gradually to the base (vs. leaves broad and base parallel-sided) which is sub-petiolate, and the decurrent leaf bases (vs. abruptly amplexicaul), in the absence of bracts, the hairy (not glabrous) stems and in the lower altitudinal range.
The existence of this species was first suggested in Jebb & Cheek Blumea 42 (1997) 80.A

Distribution (General)

Peninsular Malaysia.B

Habitat

Locally common in secondary vegetation; 450-600 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

B. Cheek, M. R. & Jebb, M. H. P. 2009: Nepenthes group Montanae (Nepenthaceae) in Indo-China, with N. thai and N. bokor described as new. – Kew Bull. 64(2): 319-325

Specimens

	Country	Date	Collector + collecting number	Herbaria	Type	Scan	Derivatives
	Malaysia	1998-07-24	Clarke, C. M. s.n.	BO, K, KEP, L, SAN, SING
	Citation: Malaysia, Kelantan, Bukit Bakar, alt. 530 m, 24 Jul 1998, C.M. Clarke s.n. Specimen summary: BO Isotype of Nepenthes benstonei C.Clarke Specimen summary: K Isotype of Nepenthes benstonei C.Clarke Specimen summary: KEP Holotype of Nepenthes benstonei C.Clarke Specimen summary: L Isotype of Nepenthes benstonei C.Clarke Specimen summary: SAN Isotype of Nepenthes benstonei C.Clarke Specimen summary: SING Isotype of Nepenthes benstonei C.Clarke