Nepenthes gracillima
Encyclopedia
Nepenthes gracillima is a highland Nepenthes
pitcher plant
species, native to Peninsular Malaysia
.
, Charles Clarke
lists the natural hybrid N. gracillima × N. macfarlanei
. At the time of the book's publication, N. alba
was considered a heterotypic synonym of N. gracillima. Since then, however, N. alba has been elevated to a species. As both N. alba and N. gracillima occur on Mount Tahan
, from which Clarke recorded the hybrid, it is unknown which taxon was involved in the cross.
Nepenthes
The Nepenthes , popularly known as tropical pitcher plants or monkey cups, are a genus of carnivorous plants in the monotypic family Nepenthaceae. The genus comprises roughly 130 species, numerous natural and many cultivated hybrids...
pitcher plant
Pitcher plant
Pitcher plants are carnivorous plants whose prey-trapping mechanism features a deep cavity filled with liquid known as a pitfall trap. It has been widely assumed that the various sorts of pitfall trap evolved from rolled leaves, with selection pressure favouring more deeply cupped leaves over...
species, native to Peninsular Malaysia
Peninsular Malaysia
Peninsular Malaysia , also known as West Malaysia , is the part of Malaysia which lies on the Malay Peninsula. Its area is . It shares a land border with Thailand in the north. To the south is the island of Singapore. Across the Strait of Malacca to the west lies the island of Sumatra...
.
Infraspecific taxa
- Nepenthes gracillima f. ramispina (Ridl.) Hort.Westphal (2000) [=N. ramispinaNepenthes ramispinaNepenthes ramispina is a highland Nepenthes pitcher plant species, native to Peninsular Malaysia. It is very similar to N. gracillma and there is much debate about whether the two should be treated as separate species.-Natural hybrids:...
] - Nepenthes gracillima var. major Ridl. (1924)
Natural hybrids
In Nepenthes of Sumatra and Peninsular MalaysiaNepenthes of Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia
Nepenthes of Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia is a monograph by Charles Clarke on the tropical pitcher plants of Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, and their minor surrounding islands. It was published in 2001 by Natural History Publications...
, Charles Clarke
Charles Clarke (botanist)
Dr. Charles M. Clarke is a botanist and taxonomist specialising in the carnivorous plant genus Nepenthes. Clarke has an honours degree in Botany from Monash University in Melbourne, and a Ph.D. in Ecosystem Management at the University of New England, in Armidale, New South Wales.Clarke first...
lists the natural hybrid N. gracillima × N. macfarlanei
Nepenthes macfarlanei
Nepenthes macfarlanei is a carnivorous pitcher plant species endemic to Peninsular Malaysia. It produces attractive red-speckled pitchers. Lower pitchers are ovoid to cylindrical and up to 20 cm high. The lower surface of the lid is densely covered with short, white hairs...
. At the time of the book's publication, N. alba
Nepenthes alba
Nepenthes alba is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Peninsular Malaysia. The specific epithet alba is derived from the Latin word albus, meaning "white", and refers to the colour of the upper pitchers.-Natural hybrids:...
was considered a heterotypic synonym of N. gracillima. Since then, however, N. alba has been elevated to a species. As both N. alba and N. gracillima occur on Mount Tahan
Mount Tahan
Mount Tahan , at 2,187 m, is the highest point in Peninsular Malaysia. It is located within the Taman Negara national forest, in the state of Pahang. The mountain is part of the Tahan Range and popular to local climbers....
, from which Clarke recorded the hybrid, it is unknown which taxon was involved in the cross.
Further reading
- Clarke, C.M. 2006. Introduction. In: Danser, B.H. The Nepenthaceae of the Netherlands IndiesThe Nepenthaceae of the Netherlands Indies"The Nepenthaceae of the Netherlands Indies" is a seminal monograph by B. H. Danser on the tropical pitcher plants of the Dutch East Indies, North Borneo, the Malay Peninsula, and eastern New Guinea...
. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu. pp. 1–15. - Kiew, R.G. 1990. Pitcher plants of Gunung Tahan. Journal of Wildlife and National Parks (Malaysia) 10: 34–37. Mansur, M. 2001. In: Prosiding Seminar Hari Cinta Puspa dan Satwa Nasional. Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia, Bogor. pp. 244–253.
- McPherson, S. 2009. Nepenthes alba and Nepenthes gracillima. Carnivorous Plant NewsletterCarnivorous Plant NewsletterThe Carnivorous Plant Newsletter is the official publication of the International Carnivorous Plant Society , the largest such organization in the world.-History and editorship:...
38(4): 102–106. Listed as Endangered (EN B1+2e v2.3). - Shivas, R.G. 1983. Carnivorous Plant NewsletterCarnivorous Plant NewsletterThe Carnivorous Plant Newsletter is the official publication of the International Carnivorous Plant Society , the largest such organization in the world.-History and editorship:...
12(3): 65–67. - Shivas, R.G. 1984. Pitcher Plants of Peninsular Malaysia & Singapore. Maruzen Asia, Kuala Lumpur.
- Thorogood, C. 2010. The Malaysian Nepenthes: Evolutionary and Taxonomic Perspectives. Nova Science Publishers, New York.
External links
- Nepenthes alba and Nepenthes gracillima by Stewart McPhersonStewart McPherson (geographer)Stewart R. McPherson is a British geographer.He studied at the University of Durham in England, the University of Tübingen in Germany and Yale University in the United States....