Nepenthes x kinabaluensis
Encyclopedia
Nepenthes × kinabaluensis (icon), or the Kinabalu Pitcher-Plant, is the natural hybrid between N. rajah
and N. villosa
. It was first collected near Kambarangoh
on Mount Kinabalu
, Borneo
by Lilian Gibbs
in 1910 and later mentioned by John Muirhead Macfarlane
as "Nepenthes sp." in 1914. Although Macfarlane did not formally name the plant, he noted that "[a]ll available morphological details suggest that this is a hybrid between N. villosa and N. rajah". It was finally described in 1976 by Shigeo Kurata
as N. × kinabaluensis. The name was first published in Nepenthes of Mount Kinabalu
, but was a nomen nudum
at the time as it lacked an adequate description and information on the type specimen
. The name was subsequently published validly by Kurata in 1984.
The pitchers of N. × kinabaluensis may be quite large, but do not compare to those of N. rajah or N. × alisaputrana (N. burbidgeae
× N. rajah). Nepenthes × kinabaluensis can only be found on Mount Kinabalu (hence the name) and nearby Mount Tambuyukon
, where the two parent species occur sympatrically
. More specifically, plants are known from a footpath near Paka Cave and several places along an unestablished route on a south-east ridge, which lies on the west side of the Upper Kolopis River
. The only accessible location from which this hybrid is known is the Kinabalu summit trail, between Layang-Layang and the helipad
, where it grows at about 2900 m in a clearing dominated by Dacrydium gibbsiae
and Leptospermum recurvum
trees. Nepenthes × kinabaluensis has an altitudinal distribution of 2420 to 3030 m. It grows in open areas in cloud forest.
The hybrid is generally intermediate in appearance between its parent species. Raised ribs line the inner edge of the peristome and end with elongated teeth. These are more prominent than those found in N. rajah and smaller than those of N. villosa. The peristome is coarse and expanded at the margin (but not scalloped like that of N. rajah), the lid orbiculate or reniform and almost flat. In general, pitchers are larger than those of N. villosa and the tendril joins the apex about 1–2 cm below the leaf tip, a feature which is characteristic of N. rajah. In older plants, the tendril can be almost woody. N. × kinabaluensis is an indumentum of villous hairs covering the pitchers and leaf margins, which is approximately intermediate between the parents. Lower pitchers have two fringed wings, whereas the upper pitchers usually lack these. The colour of the pitcher varies from yellow to scarlet. N. × kinabaluensis seems to produce upper pitchers more readily than either of its parents. In all respects N. × kinabaluensis is intermediate between the two parent species and it is easy to distinguish from all other Nepenthes of Borneo. However, it has been confused once before, when the hybrid was identified as N. rajah in Letts Guide to Carnivorous Plants of the World.
Nepenthes rajah
Nepenthes rajah is an insectivorous pitcher plant species of the Nepenthaceae family. It is endemic to Mount Kinabalu and neighbouring Mount Tambuyukon in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Nepenthes rajah grows exclusively on serpentine substrates, particularly in areas of seeping ground water where the...
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...
. It was first collected near Kambarangoh
Kambarangoh
Kambarangoh is an area along the summit trail to Low's Peak on Mount Kinabalu in Sabah, Borneo. It lies between the Power Station and Layang-Layang. It is named after the only telecommunications station on the mountain, which is owned by Kambarangoh Telecoms.The road leading up to the Power...
on Mount Kinabalu
Mount Kinabalu
Mount Kinabalu is a prominent mountain on the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. It is located in the East Malaysian state of Sabah and is protected as Kinabalu National Park, a World Heritage Site. Kinabalu is the tallest peak in Borneo's Crocker Range and is the tallest mountain in the Malay...
, Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
by Lilian Gibbs
Lilian Gibbs
Lilian Suzette Gibbs was a British botanist who worked for the British Museum in London. She was the first woman and the first botanist to ascend Mount Kinabalu in February 1910. Gibbs collected many plants new to science, several of which are named in her honour .-References:* Vickery, R. ....
in 1910 and later mentioned by 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...
as "Nepenthes sp." in 1914. Although Macfarlane did not formally name the plant, he noted that "[a]ll available morphological details suggest that this is a hybrid between N. villosa and N. rajah". It was finally described in 1976 by Shigeo Kurata
Shigeo Kurata
is a Japanese botanist and Nepenthes taxonomist whose work in the 1960s and 1970s contributed much to the current popularity of these plants. Of particular note is his 1976 guide, Nepenthes of Mount Kinabalu....
as N. × kinabaluensis. The name was first published in Nepenthes of Mount Kinabalu
Nepenthes of Mount Kinabalu
Nepenthes of Mount Kinabalu is a monograph by Shigeo Kurata on the tropical pitcher plants of Mount Kinabalu and the surrounding area of Kinabalu National Park in Sabah, Borneo. It was published in 1976 by Sabah National Parks Trustees as the second booklet of the Sabah National Parks series...
, but was a nomen nudum
Nomen nudum
The phrase nomen nudum is a Latin term, meaning "naked name", used in taxonomy...
at the time as it lacked an adequate description and information on the type specimen
Holotype
A holotype is a single physical example of an organism, known to have been used when the species was formally described. It is either the single such physical example or one of several such, but explicitly designated as the holotype...
. The name was subsequently published validly by Kurata in 1984.
The pitchers of N. × kinabaluensis may be quite large, but do not compare to those of N. rajah or N. × alisaputrana (N. burbidgeae
Nepenthes burbidgeae
Nepenthes burbidgeae , also known as the painted pitcher plant or Burbidge's Pitcher-Plant, is a tropical pitcher plant with a patchy distribution around Mount Kinabalu and neighbouring Mount Tambuyukon in Sabah, Borneo.-Botanical history:...
× N. rajah). Nepenthes × kinabaluensis can only be found on Mount Kinabalu (hence the name) and nearby 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....
, where the two parent species occur sympatrically
Sympatric speciation
Sympatric speciation is the process through which new species evolve from a single ancestral species while inhabiting the same geographic region. In evolutionary biology and biogeography, sympatric and sympatry are terms referring to organisms whose ranges overlap or are even identical, so that...
. More specifically, plants are known from a footpath near Paka Cave and several places along an unestablished route on a south-east ridge, which lies on the west side of 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...
. The only accessible location from which this hybrid is known is the Kinabalu summit trail, between Layang-Layang and the helipad
Helipad
Helipad is a common abbreviation for helicopter landing pad, a landing area for helicopters. While helicopters are able to operate on a variety of relatively flat surfaces, a fabricated helipad provides a clearly marked hard surface away from obstacles where a helicopter can safely...
, where it grows at about 2900 m in a clearing dominated by Dacrydium gibbsiae
Dacrydium gibbsiae
Dacrydium gibbsiae is a conifer species native to Malaysia. It grows on Mount Kinabalu on ultramafic soil and is notable for being able to tolerate the high levels of toxic metal compounds present in these soils....
and Leptospermum recurvum
Leptospermum recurvum
Leptospermum recurvum is a species of Leptospermum native to Malaysia. It grows on Mount Kinabalu on ultramafic soil and is notable for being able to tolerate the high levels of toxic metals present in these soils....
trees. Nepenthes × kinabaluensis has an altitudinal distribution of 2420 to 3030 m. It grows in open areas in cloud forest.
The hybrid is generally intermediate in appearance between its parent species. Raised ribs line the inner edge of the peristome and end with elongated teeth. These are more prominent than those found in N. rajah and smaller than those of N. villosa. The peristome is coarse and expanded at the margin (but not scalloped like that of N. rajah), the lid orbiculate or reniform and almost flat. In general, pitchers are larger than those of N. villosa and the tendril joins the apex about 1–2 cm below the leaf tip, a feature which is characteristic of N. rajah. In older plants, the tendril can be almost woody. N. × kinabaluensis is an indumentum of villous hairs covering the pitchers and leaf margins, which is approximately intermediate between the parents. Lower pitchers have two fringed wings, whereas the upper pitchers usually lack these. The colour of the pitcher varies from yellow to scarlet. N. × kinabaluensis seems to produce upper pitchers more readily than either of its parents. In all respects N. × kinabaluensis is intermediate between the two parent species and it is easy to distinguish from all other Nepenthes of Borneo. However, it has been confused once before, when the hybrid was identified as N. rajah in Letts Guide to Carnivorous Plants of the World.