Nepenthes abgracilis
Synonymy
Nepenthes abgracilis in Phytotaxa 151(1): 29 (-30, fig. 1). 2013 [The epithet abgracilis means ”from gracilis” referring to the type specimen that was early identified by Merrill as a form of the species of that name.B]. sec. Cheek & Jebb 2013
- Type (designated by Cheek, M. R. & Jebb, M. H. P. 20131): Philippines, Mindanao, Surigao Province (not further localised), 670 m a.s.l., April 1919, Ramos & Pascasio in BS 34501B, (holotype UC, photo K).
Description
Terrestrial climber to several metres tall. Rosette and short stems unknown. Climbing stems terete, lacking wings, 6–7 mm diam., internodes 15–18 mm long, indumentum absent, apart from moderately dense minute sessile depressed-globose red glands 0.05 mm diam; stem apex unknown. Leaves spirally inserted, coriaceous, apetiolate, narrowly oblanceolate-oblong, 23.2–29 × 2.6–3.1 cm, apex attenuate, base gradually attenuate to ca. 1.3 cm wide at base, clasping the stem for 3/4 to 4/5 its circumference, at an acute angle from the vertical, forming wings 0.3–0.4 cm wide and extending 0.9–1.2 cm below the leaf axil; longitudinal nerves 3–4 pairs on each side of the midrib in the outer ¾ of the blade, arising from the leaf base and along the midrib, visible only on adaxial surface; pennate nerves not visible, upper surface dark green, lower surface drying brown, moderately densely scattered with sessile glands as the stem, hairs absent. Lower and intermediate pitcher unknown. Upper pitchers (tendrils coiled) subcylindric ca. 16.4 cm × 5.5 cm, broadest at the slightly ellipsoid base, gradually and slightly constricting to 4.1 cm wide at the centre, before dilating to 5 cm wide below the peristome, outer surface yellow-green, with sessile glands as the stem, 3–4 per mm², hairs absent except a few inconspicuous simple hairs 0.05–0.10 mm long near peristome; fringed wings reduced to ridges running the length of the pitcher. Mouth ovate, ca. 6 × 4 cm, oblique; peristome cylindric, ca. 2.5 mm wide, red, faintly lobed, to 4 mm wide, 2 ridges per mm, ridges 0.1 mm high, inner and outer edges tightly in-rolled, teeth not visible; column short, not strongly developed, with holes visible at the inner edge; lid ovate-elliptic, ca. 5.2 × 4 cm, apex rounded to truncate, base rounded at base; lower surface suffused or blotched red, lacking an appendage, but with a basal ridge (probably an artefact of drying), ca. 10 mm long, 1 mm, flat-topped; nectar glands more than 100, 95% or more monomorphic and relatively uniform in size, orbicular or slightly elliptic, 0.6–0.75(–0.9) × 0.4–0.5 mm, including a narrow rim ca. 0.05 mm wide; the basal ridge upper surface with circa 20 narrowly elliptic-oblong glands 0.75 × 0.25 mm; glands at the junction of blade with peristome, deeply sunken, lacking a rim, ca. 0.25 mm diam.; sessile glands as on stem evident only at the edge of the lid, few and inconspicuous; spur entire. Inflorescence and fruit unknown.A
Conservation
Nepenthes abgracilis is here assessed as Critically Endangered, under Criterion D of IUCN (2012). A single location is currently known (NE Mindanao). Although mining for metal ore occurs at the Mt Legaspi location, this is so far at lower altitudes than the species is known to occur (McPherson 2009).A
Distribution (General)
Philippines, Mindanao, Surigao ProvinceA
Habitat
Forested submontane ridges, probably ultramafic, 670 m a.s.l.A
Specimens
| Country | Date | Collector + collecting number | Herbaria | Type | Scan | Derivatives | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philippines | Ramos & Pascasio in BS 34501B |  | |||||
| Citation: Philippines, Ramos & Pascasio in BS 34501B Specimen summary: Philippines, Mindanao, Surigao Province (not further localised), 670 m a.s.l., April 1919, Ramos & Pascasio in BS 34501B, (holotype UC, photo K). Type for: Nepenthes abgracilis Jebb & Cheek | |||||||