Pitcher plants of the genus Nepenthes are known from Malaysia (where
the genus reaches its maximum diversity) as well as Madagascar, Seychelles, Sri
Lanka, northeast India, Indochina, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, Australia and
the Philippines. All the Philippine species are considered to be at risk due to
deforestation, as the islands suffered a rapid loss of forests in the twentieth
century (around 75% of the indigenous forest was undisturbed in 1925, but by
the end of the century only 3% remained), and since most Nepenthes species have limited geographical ranges and are
intolerant of disturbance, it is quite likely that many species have become
extinct without ever being recorded.
In a paper published in the
journal Blumea on 11 December 2014, Martin Cheek of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew
and Mathew Jebb of the National Botanic Gardens at Glasnevin, describe three new
species of Nepenthes from Sibuyan and
Mindanao Islands in the Philippines.
The first new species described
is named Nepenthes armin, in honour
of Armin Rios Marin, a Municipal Councillor on Sibuyan and former official of
the World Wildlife Fund, who on 3 October 2007 was shot and killed by a mining
official while leading a community demonstration against forest clearances by
the mining industry. Nepenthes armin is
a climbing plant reaching 5 m in height. It produces elongate leaves up to 17.5
cm in length, with tendrils at their tips upon which the pitchers develop. The
pitchers are green with a faint purple mottling and can reach 16 cm in depth.
The species was found growing in
gallery forest on ultramafic rock (expand) at an altitude of 750 m. Only three
individuals were found at three separate sites; several searches for further
specimens by pitcher plant enthusiasts have failed to find any more plants, nor
was it found by earlier expeditions to the area in the early twentieth century.
The area where it grows has been partially cleared for lowland agriculture. As
such the species is assessed to be Critically Endangered under the terms of the
International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species.
Nepenthes armin. (a) Habit,
male inflorescence, and upper pitchers (detached); (b) upper pitchers. Scale
bar is 5 cm. Cheek & Jebb (2014).
The second new species described
is named Nepenthes tboli, after the
T’boli People, who live in the area where it was discovered. This is a shrub or
climber reaching at least 50 cm in height, producing leaves up to 16 cm long,
with tendrils at the tips upon which the pitchers grow. The pitchers are
11.5-17.5 cm deep.
Only two specimens of the plant
were found, growing on open grassland by Lake Parker in South Cotabato Province
on Mindanao. As such the species is assessed to be Critically Endangered under
the terms of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Red List
of Threatened Species, though Cheek and Jebb note that the plants were found
close to the botanically poorly known Tiruray Highlands, so there is hope of
undiscovered populations being discovered.
Nepenthes tboli. Habit with
upper pitchers and infructescence. Scale bar is 5 cm. Cheek & Jebb (2014).
The third new species described
is named Nepenthes zygon, meaning ‘yoked’
or ‘coupled’, due to this species close relationship with Nepenthes mindanaoensis. This is a terrestrial climber reaching 2-3
m tall, possibly capable of rooting on stunted trees in cloud forest. Leaves
can reach 30 cm in length, lower pitchers can reach 14 cm, upper pitchers 25
cm. Pitchers are covered with a white waxy layer and have red-to-purple stripes
and flecks.
Nepenthes zygon has been observed growing in submontane mossy
forest along ridges of non-ultramaffic rock, at altitudes of 1500-1875 m above
sea level, on Mounts Masay and Pasian and possibly Hibok-Hibok. Unfortunately
much of the forest on Mount Pasain has recently been clear-cut, leading to
concerns that the species might be extinct there. The population at Mount Masay
faces no such threat at the current time; that at Hibok-Hibok has yet to be
confirmed. The species is assessed to be Critically Endangered under the terms
of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Red List of
Threatened Species.
Nepenthes zygon. (a) Habit,
climbing stem with male inflorescence and upper pitcher; (b) upper pitcher, not
yet fully opened; (c) lower pitcher. Scale bars are 5 cm. Cheek & Jebb
(2014).
See also…
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Sundews (Drosera spp.) are a widespread group of Carnivorous Plants, found on every continent except Antarctica. They are able to live on extremely nutrient...
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