Nepenthes x harryana
Encyclopedia
Nepenthes × harryana (icon; after Harry Veitch
, head of the well known horticultural firm of Veitch & Sons
) is the natural hybrid between N. edwardsiana
and N. villosa
. Its two parent species are very closely related and so N. × harryana, which is intermediate in form, may be difficult to distinguish from either of them.
It was originally described in 1882 by Frederick William Burbidge
. Burbidge wrote of it as follows:
John Muirhead Macfarlane
realised its hybrid origin and described it as such in his monograph of 1908. Danser wrote that N. × harryana could be a hybrid as Macfarlane suggested, or a form of N. villosa together with N. edwardsiana.
Nepenthes × harryana can be distinguished from N. villosa on the basis of its pitcher morphology. The pitchers of the hybrid are more cylindrical than those of N. villosa, whereas the indumentum
is more dense than that of N. edwardsiana. The hip of the pitcher cup, which is found just below the peristome in N. villosa and in the lower quarter of N. edwardsiana pitchers, is located around the middle of N. × harryana pitchers. However, N. villosa plants from Mount Tambuyukon
are easier to confuse with this hybrid, as they produce pitchers that may be elongated slightly above the hip.
Nepenthes × harryana is known from a ridge above the Upper Kolopis River
and from two locations along the Kinabalu summit trail; several specimens grow between Pondok
Lowii and Pondok Mempening. Since N edwardsiana does not grow along the summit trail, it cannot be confused with this hybrid there. Burbidge wrote that N. edwardsiana, N. × harryana, and N. villosa "are quite distinct in zone of the mountain".
Harry Veitch
Sir Harry James Veitch was an eminent English horticulturist in the nineteenth century, who was the head of the family nursery business, James Veitch & Sons, based in Chelsea, London...
, head of the well known horticultural firm of Veitch & Sons
Veitch Nurseries
The Veitch Nurseries were the largest group of family-run plant nurseries in Europe during the 19th century. Started by John Veitch sometime before 1808, the original nursery grew substantially over several decades and was eventually split into two separate businesses - based at Chelsea and...
) is the natural hybrid between N. edwardsiana
Nepenthes edwardsiana
Nepenthes edwardsiana , or the Splendid Pitcher-Plant, is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Mount Kinabalu and neighbouring Mount Tambuyukon in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo...
and N. villosa
Nepenthes villosa
Nepenthes villosa , or the Villose Pitcher-Plant, is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Mount Kinabalu and neighbouring Mount Tambuyukon in northeastern Borneo. It grows at higher altitudes than any other Bornean Nepenthes species, occurring at elevations of over 3200 m...
. Its two parent species are very closely related and so N. × harryana, which is intermediate in form, may be difficult to distinguish from either of them.
It was originally described in 1882 by Frederick William Burbidge
Frederick William Burbidge
Frederick William Thomas Burbidge was a British explorer who collected many rare tropical plants for the famous Veitch Nurseries. Burbidge's first job was as a gardener at Kew Gardens...
. Burbidge wrote of it as follows:
Apart from these I found an intermediate between N. villosa and N. Edwardsiana, also epiphytic on Casuarina. This is, I believe, unnamed ; if so, I should like it to be called Nepenthes Harryana.
Now, if a dried pitcher of N. Edwardsiana be examined, the upper four-fifths of it will be seen to be membranous, the lower part leathery and hard ; in N. villosa nearly all is hard and leathery except about half-an-inch below the hardened rim of the urns ; in N. Harryana about one-third is hard, and two-thirds soft or membranous below the rim. The edge of the pitcher mouths in these three kinds is quite distinct from those of all others, as shown in my sketches.
John Muirhead Macfarlane
John Muirhead Macfarlane
John Muirhead Macfarlane was a Scottish botanist. He was born and educated in Scotland, where he occupied several different academic positions at the University of Edinburgh before emigrating to the United States to assume a professorial chair at the University of Pennsylvania in 1893. He held...
realised its hybrid origin and described it as such in his monograph of 1908. Danser wrote that N. × harryana could be a hybrid as Macfarlane suggested, or a form of N. villosa together with N. edwardsiana.
Nepenthes × harryana can be distinguished from N. villosa on the basis of its pitcher morphology. The pitchers of the hybrid are more cylindrical than those of N. villosa, whereas the indumentum
Indumentum
The indumentum is a covering of fine hairs or bristles on a plant or insect.In plants, the indumentum types are:*pubescent*hirsute*pilose*villous*tomentose*stellate*scabrous*scurfy...
is more dense than that of N. edwardsiana. The hip of the pitcher cup, which is found just below the peristome in N. villosa and in the lower quarter of N. edwardsiana pitchers, is located around the middle of N. × harryana pitchers. However, N. villosa plants from Mount Tambuyukon
Mount Tambuyukon
Mount Tambuyukon or Tamboyukon is Malaysia's third highest mountain at 2,579 m . It lies close to the famous Mount Kinabalu. The mountain supports a wide range of unique flora and fauna, including a number of pitcher plant species of the genus Nepenthes....
are easier to confuse with this hybrid, as they produce pitchers that may be elongated slightly above the hip.
Nepenthes × harryana is known from a ridge above the Upper Kolopis River
Kolopis River
The Kolopis River is one of the major rivers that flows through Kinabalu National Park. An area adjacent to the upper Kolopis River is home to a number of pitcher plants of the genus Nepenthes, including N. edwardsiana, N. rajah, and N. villosa, as well as two natural hybrids...
and from two locations along the Kinabalu summit trail; several specimens grow between Pondok
Lowii and Pondok Mempening. Since N edwardsiana does not grow along the summit trail, it cannot be confused with this hybrid there. Burbidge wrote that N. edwardsiana, N. × harryana, and N. villosa "are quite distinct in zone of the mountain".