New Species - Nepenthes palawanensis ined.
Species:
Nepenthes palawanensis ined.
Locality:
Philippines
Date discovered:
February 2010
Discovery Details
On the summit of the remote outcrop, Sultan's Peak, in Central Palawan, Jehson Cervancia and Stewart McPherson discovered a spectacular new species of Nepenthes (pitcher plant). Sultan's Peak is a massive ultramafic outcrop located near Mount Victoria (the type locality of N. attenboroughii) and the new Nepenthes taxon clearly bears great similarity to that species. It produces similarly gigantic pitchers, commonly in excess of 35 cm in length. However, the structure of the leaves, flowers, leave attachment, and the shape, size, colour and indumentum of the pitchers differs from N. attenboroughii. Consequently, permits and permission have been acquired for this spectacular new plant to be described as a new species named Nepenthes palawanensis ined.
Much like the pitchers of N. attenboroughii the traps of N. palawanensis are voluminous (up to at least 2 liters), and lined with a broad, spiked peristome. However, this gigantic new species is interesting because it has never been observed to produce upper pitchers. All traps observed at the type locality consisted of lower traps - quite unlike N. attenboroughii which overwhelmingly produced lower pitchers.
The formal description of Nepenthes palawanensis, will be published in Carnivorous Plants and their Habitats Volume Two by Stewart McPherson.
Detailed information and several photos also feature in both volumes of Carnivorous Plants and their Habitats. Please see Redfern book catalogue (left) for more details or to place an order.