Nepenthes spectabilis
Encyclopedia
Nepenthes spectabilis is a tropical pitcher plant
endemic to Sumatra
, where it grows at elevations of between 1400 and 2200 m above sea level. The specific epithet spectabilis is Latin
for "visible" or "notable".
The first known collection of N. spectabilis was made by Julius August Lörzing in 1920. The specimen Lörzing 7308 was collected on June 5, 1920, on Mount Sibajak at an altitude of 1800 to 1900 m. It is deposited at the Bogor Botanical Gardens
(formerly the Herbarium of the Buitenzorg Botanic Gardens) along with two isotype
s which include both male and female floral material. A third isotype, sheet H.L.B. 928.350-170, is held at the National Herbarium of the Netherlands
in Leiden and includes female floral material.
Lörzing made two further collections of N. spectabilis in 1921. A fourth specimen was collected by Mohamed Nur bin Mohamed Ghose later that same year.
B. H. Danser
formally described
N. spectabilis in his seminal monograph "The Nepenthaceae of the Netherlands Indies
", published in 1928. He designated Lörzing 7308 as the type specimen. Danser wrote:
The next major taxonomic treatment of N. spectabilis came only in 1986, when Rusjdi Tamin and Mitsuru Hotta
covered the species in their monograph on the Nepenthes of Sumatra.
An article authored by Bruce Lee Bednar and published in a 1987 issue of the Carnivorous Plant Newsletter
mentions a plant known as N. spectabilis in the horticultural
trade. Taxonomist Jan Schlauer considers this plant conspecific with N. curtisii, which in turn is treated as a junior synonym of N. maxima
.
In their 1997 revision of the genus, Matthew Jebb
and Martin Cheek
treated specimens of N. lavicola
as belonging to N. spectabilis. They also designated Lörzing 7308 as the lectotype
of N. spectabilis. The subsequent monograph of Charles Clarke
treats these taxa
as distinct species.
s are cylindrical in cross section and up to 10 cm long.
Leaves are coriaceous and sessile. The lamina is oblong and up to 16 cm long by 6 cm wide. It has a rounded-acute apex and is gradually attenuate towards the base. Up to 6 longitudinal veins are present on either side of the midrib. Pinnate veins are usually indistinct. Tendril
s are up to 25 cm long.
Rosette and lower pitchers are narrowly ovoid in the lower third to half of the pitcher cup. Above the hip, they are cylindrical and somewhat narrower. Terrestrial pitchers are relatively small, growing to 12 cm in height and 4 cm in width. A pair of fringed wings (≤4 mm wide) runs down the front of the pitcher. The gland
ular region covers the ovoid portion of the pitcher's inner surface. The mouth is round and flat at the front, becoming oblique towards the lid. The peristome
is cylindrical in cross section and up to 4 mm wide. Its inner margin is lined with small but distinct teeth. The pitcher lid or operculum
is sub-orbicular in shape, lacks appendages, and has a strongly cordate base. The spur
is very long (≤30 mm) and unbranched. It is inserted near the base of the lid.
Upper pitchers arise gradually from the end of the tendril. They are very narrowly infundibular in the lower half to three-quarters. Above the hip, they are either cylindrical or narrowly infundibular. Aerial pitchers are much larger than their terrestrial counterparts, growing to 26 cm in height and 4.5 cm in width. They usually have ribs in place of wings, although fringe elements may be present near the peristome. The glandular region covers the inner surface below the hip. The pitcher mouth is round and has a steeply oblique insertion. The peristome is cylindrical and up to 3 mm wide. Other parts of the upper pitchers are similar to those of the lower pitchers.
Nepenthes spectabilis has a racemose
inflorescence
. The peduncle
grows to 12 cm in length. The rachis
may be up to 15 cm long, although it is usually shorter and denser in female inflorescences. Partial peduncles are bract
eolate and two-flowered. Sepal
s are elliptic-oblong in shape and up to 5 mm long.
Nepenthes spectabilis exhibits considerable variation in the development of its indumentum
. In most plants, developing parts are covered in short, stellate reddish-brown hairs, although many of these are caducous. Inflorescences and the margins of the lamina bear dense, stellate reddish-brown hairs that are persistent. A dense covering of short, persistent hairs is also present on the lower surface of the midrib.
The stem and lamina are green. Pitchers are characteristically light green with numerous dark brown speckles. The peristome is often yellowish-green with brown stripes.
n provinces
of North Sumatra
and Aceh
. Its natural range stretches from the Lake Toba
region in the south to Mount Kemiri in the north. It has an altitudinal distribution of 1400 to 2200 m above sea level. Nepenthes spectabilis grows in mossy forest and stunted upper montane forest. It usually occurs terrestrially, but may also be epiphytic
.
Certain populations of N. spectabilis differ considerably in morphology. Plants from the type locality produce relatively broad upper pitchers, while those from Mount Pangulubao
are much narrower. A particularly gracile form has been recorded from the west side of Lake Toba. Plants from Mount Siluatan are different still, producing pitchers that are green throughout. The species also exhibits great variability in the extent of the indumentum
; some plants have a dense covering of hairs, while others are virtually glabrous.
The form of N. spectabilis from Mount Bandahara is very large and has an unusual flared peristome. Plants grow in Sphagnum
moss. In 1996, Paul Harwood
, Heiko Rischer and Andreas Wistuba
observed that the majority of prey in both lower and upper pitchers of this form consisted of beetle
s. They also found infaunal
mosquito
larva
e in the pitchers.
In the wild, N. spectabilis is sympatric with N. flava
, N. gymnamphora
, N. mikei
, N. ovata
, N. rhombicaulis
, and N. rigidifolia
. Natural hybrids with all of these species except N. flava have been recorded.
Due to the patchy distribution of N. spectabilis, its conservation status
is listed as Vulnerable
on the 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
. Upon observing N. spectabilis on Mount Pangulubao in 1995, botanist Charles Clarke
wrote that he "got the impression that collectors had taken a bit of a toll on the population, partly because very few immature plants were visible".
Nepenthes spectabilis is thought to be most closely related to N. lavicola
. It can be distinguished from that species on the basis of its smaller floral bract
s, longer fruit
s, and very long unbranched spur
. In addition, the species differ in the shape of their lower pitchers. Those of N. lavicola are urceolate to globose, while those of N. spectabilis are ovoid in the lower part and cylindrical above. Furthermore, the pitchers of N. lavicola are generally dark brown or purple throughout, compared to the light green and dark brown speckled traps of N. spectabilis.
Charles Clarke
mentions an undescribed taxon from Aceh
that is intermediate in appearance between N. lavicola and N. spectabilis. It is unlikely to be of hybridogenic origin as it is not sympatric with any other Nepenthes species.
Nepenthes rigidifolia
also bears a superficial resemblance to N. spectabilis, particularly in the colouration of its pitchers. Apart from its markedly different upper pitchers, N. spectabilis differs from the former in having thin leaves, an unbranched spur, and an apical tendril insertion.
In his 1928 monograph, B. H. Danser
placed N. spectabilis in the Nobiles clade
. He wrote:
Clarke suggests that N. spectabilis "would perhaps have been better placed in the Montanae, which includes several species that appear to be closely related, such as N. gymnamphora
and N. pectinata".
In 2001, Clarke published a cladistic analysis of the Nepenthes species of Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia
based on 70 morphological characteristics of each taxon. The resultant cladogram
placed N. spectabilis in a small clade with N. gymnamphora
. However, since the study was limited in its geographical scope, this placement may not accurately reflect the relationship between N. spectabilis and its closest relatives.
× N. spectabilis is known to occur along the summit trail of Mount Pangulubao. This hybrid produces pitchers roughly intermediate in appearance between its parent species. The peristome is flattened and expanded, but to a lesser degree than in N. ovata. The speckles of N. spectabilis are present, but the pitchers have a much lighter colouration. Most examples of this hybrid grow terrestrially and some climb into the forest canopy.
× N. spectabilis have been recorded from an open rocky outcrop close to the type locality of N. rigidifolia. The hybrid differs from N. rigidifolia in having narrower pitchers with an infundibular base and distinct hip around the middle. On the other hand, the pitchers of this hybrid are broader than those of N. spectabilis and have a wider, expanded peristome.
The richly coloured lower pitchers of N. rigidifolia × N. spectabilis superficially resemble those of N. macfarlanei
. However, since that species is confined to Peninsular Malaysia
, the two taxa
are not easily confused.
× N. spectabilis, N. mikei
× N. spectabilis, N. rhombicaulis
× N. spectabilis, and N. spectabilis × N. tobaica
.
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...
endemic to Sumatra
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
, where it grows at elevations of between 1400 and 2200 m above sea level. The specific epithet spectabilis is Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
for "visible" or "notable".
Botanical history
Bogor Botanical Gardens
The Bogor Botanical Gardens are located 60 km south of the capital of Jakarta in Bogor, Indonesia. The botanical gardens are situated in the city center of Bogor and adjoin the Istana Bogor...
(formerly the Herbarium of the Buitenzorg Botanic Gardens) along with two isotype
Isotype
Isotype can refer to:* In crystallography, an "isotype" is a synonym for isomorph* In biology, per the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature, the "isotype" is a duplicate of the holotype....
s which include both male and female floral material. A third isotype, sheet H.L.B. 928.350-170, is held at the National Herbarium of the Netherlands
National Herbarium of the Netherlands
The National Herbarium of the Netherlands was established in 1999 through a decentralized merger of the major university herbaria of Leiden , Utrecht and Wageningen...
in Leiden and includes female floral material.
Lörzing made two further collections of N. spectabilis in 1921. A fourth specimen was collected by Mohamed Nur bin Mohamed Ghose later that same year.
B. H. Danser
B. H. Danser
Benedictus Hubertus Danser , often abbreviated B. H. Danser, was a Dutch taxonomist and botanist...
formally described
Species description
A species description or type description is a formal description of a newly discovered species, usually in the form of a scientific paper. Its purpose is to give a clear description of a new species of organism and explain how it differs from species which have been described previously, or are...
N. spectabilis in his seminal monograph "The Nepenthaceae of the Netherlands Indies
The 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...
", published in 1928. He designated Lörzing 7308 as the type specimen. Danser wrote:
This new species has only been found on the G. Sibajak and the G. Pinto, two tops of the same mountain ; the Bt. Semaik too certainly belongs to the same group. N. spectabilis grows above 1800 m elevation ; the habitat is alpine forest and scrub. It seems to be most closely related to N. sanguineaNepenthes sanguineaNepenthes sanguinea is a large and vigorous Nepenthes pitcher plant species, native to the Malay Peninsula, where it grows at 900–1800 m altitude. The pitchers are variable in size, from 10–30 cm tall, and range from green and yellow to orange and red. The insides of the pitchers are usually...
by the characters of the vegetative parts, but the inflorescences are quite different.
Lörzing says of his number 8297 that it was a monoeceousPlant sexualityPlant sexuality covers the wide variety of sexual reproduction systems found across the plant kingdom. This article describes morphological aspects of sexual reproduction of plants....
plant ; since, however, in H. B. there is no stem fragment both with male and female flowers, I call this record into question.
The next major taxonomic treatment of N. spectabilis came only in 1986, when Rusjdi Tamin and Mitsuru Hotta
Mitsuru Hotta
is a Japanese botanist best known for his research on Araceae.Hotta was born in Osaka, Japan in 1937. He graduated from the Agricultural Department of Osaka Prefecture University in 1960. The same year, he took part in the Tonga and Fiji Expedition organised by Kyoto University...
covered the species in their monograph on the Nepenthes of Sumatra.
An article authored by Bruce Lee Bednar and published in a 1987 issue of the Carnivorous Plant Newsletter
Carnivorous Plant Newsletter
The Carnivorous Plant Newsletter is the official publication of the International Carnivorous Plant Society , the largest such organization in the world.-History and editorship:...
mentions a plant known as N. spectabilis in the horticultural
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
trade. Taxonomist Jan Schlauer considers this plant conspecific with N. curtisii, which in turn is treated as a junior synonym of N. maxima
Nepenthes maxima
Nepenthes maxima , the Great Pitcher-Plant, is a carnivorous pitcher plant species of the genus Nepenthes. It has a relatively wide distribution covering Sulawesi, New Guinea, and the Maluku Islands. It is closely related to N. eymae....
.
In their 1997 revision of the genus, Matthew Jebb
Matthew Jebb
Dr. Matthew H. P. Jebb is an Irish taxonomist and botanist specialising in the ant plant genera Squamellaria, Myrmecodia, Hydnophytum, Myrmephytum and Anthorrhiza, as well as the carnivorous plant genus Nepenthes....
and Martin Cheek
Martin Cheek
Dr. Martin Roy Cheek is a taxonomist and botanist specialising in the carnivorous plant genus Nepenthes.-Research:Cheek has described several new Nepenthes species, mostly with Matthew Jebb, including: N. argentii, N. aristolochioides, N. danseri, N. diatas,...
treated specimens of N. lavicola
Nepenthes lavicola
Nepenthes lavicola is a tropical pitcher plant species endemic to northern Sumatra. It is thought to be most closely related to N. singalana and N. spectabilis....
as belonging to N. spectabilis. They also designated Lörzing 7308 as the lectotype
Lectotype
In botanical nomenclature and zoological nomenclature, a lectotype is a kind of name-bearing type. When a species was originally described on the basis of a name-bearing type consisting of multiple specimens, one of those may be designated as the lectotype...
of N. spectabilis. The subsequent monograph of 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...
treats these taxa
Taxon
|thumb|270px|[[African elephants]] form a widely-accepted taxon, the [[genus]] LoxodontaA taxon is a group of organisms, which a taxonomist adjudges to be a unit. Usually a taxon is given a name and a rank, although neither is a requirement...
as distinct species.
Description
Nepenthes spectabilis is a climbing plant. The stem can reach lengths of 6 m and is up to 7 mm in diameter. InternodePlant stem
A stem is one of two main structural axes of a vascular plant. The stem is normally divided into nodes and internodes, the nodes hold buds which grow into one or more leaves, inflorescence , conifer cones, roots, other stems etc. The internodes distance one node from another...
s are cylindrical in cross section and up to 10 cm long.
Tendril
In botany, a tendril is a specialized stem, leaf or petiole with a threadlike shape that is used by climbing plants for support, attachment and cellular invasion by parasitic plants, generally by twining around suitable hosts. They do not have a lamina or blade, but they can photosynthesize...
s are up to 25 cm long.
Rosette and lower pitchers are narrowly ovoid in the lower third to half of the pitcher cup. Above the hip, they are cylindrical and somewhat narrower. Terrestrial pitchers are relatively small, growing to 12 cm in height and 4 cm in width. A pair of fringed wings (≤4 mm wide) runs down the front of the pitcher. The gland
Gland
A gland is an organ in an animal's body that synthesizes a substance for release of substances such as hormones or breast milk, often into the bloodstream or into cavities inside the body or its outer surface .- Types :...
ular region covers the ovoid portion of the pitcher's inner surface. The mouth is round and flat at the front, becoming oblique towards the lid. The peristome
Peristome
The word peristome is derived from the Greek peri, meaning 'around' or 'about', and stoma, 'mouth'. It is a term used to describe various anatomical features that surround an opening to an organ or structure. The term is used in plants and invertebrate animals, such as in describing the shells of...
is cylindrical in cross section and up to 4 mm wide. Its inner margin is lined with small but distinct teeth. The pitcher lid or operculum
Operculum (botany)
An operculum, in botany, is a term generally used to describe a structure within a plant, moss, or fungus acting as a cap, flap, or lid. In plants, it may also be called a bud cap.Examples of structures identified as opercula include:...
is sub-orbicular in shape, lacks appendages, and has a strongly cordate base. The spur
Spur (biology)
A spur in botany is a spike, usually part of a flower.In certain plants, part of a sepal or petal develops into an elongated hollow spike extending behind the flower, containing nectar which is sucked by long-tongued animals . Plants with such structures include Delphinium, Aquilegia, Piperia, and...
is very long (≤30 mm) and unbranched. It is inserted near the base of the lid.
Upper pitchers arise gradually from the end of the tendril. They are very narrowly infundibular in the lower half to three-quarters. Above the hip, they are either cylindrical or narrowly infundibular. Aerial pitchers are much larger than their terrestrial counterparts, growing to 26 cm in height and 4.5 cm in width. They usually have ribs in place of wings, although fringe elements may be present near the peristome. The glandular region covers the inner surface below the hip. The pitcher mouth is round and has a steeply oblique insertion. The peristome is cylindrical and up to 3 mm wide. Other parts of the upper pitchers are similar to those of the lower pitchers.
Nepenthes spectabilis has a racemose
Raceme
A raceme is a type of inflorescence that is unbranched and indeterminate and bears pedicellate flowers — flowers having short floral stalks called pedicels — along the axis. In botany, axis means a shoot, in this case one bearing the flowers. In a raceme, the oldest flowers are borne...
inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
. The peduncle
Peduncle (botany)
In botany, a peduncle is a stem supporting an inflorescence, or after fecundation, an infructescence.The peduncle is a stem, usually green and without leaves, though sometimes colored or supporting small leaves...
grows to 12 cm in length. The rachis
Rachis
Rachis is a biological term for a main axis or "shaft".-In zoology:In vertebrates a rachis can refer to the series of articulated vertebrae, which encase the spinal cord. In this case the rachis usually form the supporting axis of the body and is then called the spine or vertebral column...
may be up to 15 cm long, although it is usually shorter and denser in female inflorescences. Partial peduncles are bract
Bract
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale. Bracts are often different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture...
eolate and two-flowered. Sepal
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
s are elliptic-oblong in shape and up to 5 mm long.
Nepenthes spectabilis exhibits considerable variation in the development of its 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...
. In most plants, developing parts are covered in short, stellate reddish-brown hairs, although many of these are caducous. Inflorescences and the margins of the lamina bear dense, stellate reddish-brown hairs that are persistent. A dense covering of short, persistent hairs is also present on the lower surface of the midrib.
The stem and lamina are green. Pitchers are characteristically light green with numerous dark brown speckles. The peristome is often yellowish-green with brown stripes.
Ecology
Nepenthes spectabilis is endemic to the IndonesiaIndonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
n provinces
Provinces of Indonesia
The province is the highest tier of local government subnational entity in Indonesia. Each province has its own local government, headed by a governor, and has its own legislative body...
of North Sumatra
North Sumatra
North Sumatra is a province of Indonesia on the Sumatra island. Its capital is Medan. It is the most populous Indonesian province outside of Java. It is slightly larger than Sri Lanka in area.- Geography and population :...
and Aceh
Aceh
Aceh is a special region of Indonesia, located on the northern tip of the island of Sumatra. Its full name is Daerah Istimewa Aceh , Nanggroë Aceh Darussalam and Aceh . Past spellings of its name include Acheh, Atjeh and Achin...
. Its natural range stretches from the Lake Toba
Lake Toba
Lake Toba is a lake and supervolcano. The lake is 100 kilometres long and 30 kilometres wide, and 505 metres at its deepest point. Located in the middle of the northern part of the Indonesian island of Sumatra with a surface elevation of about , the lake stretches from to...
region in the south to Mount Kemiri in the north. It has an altitudinal distribution of 1400 to 2200 m above sea level. Nepenthes spectabilis grows in mossy forest and stunted upper montane forest. It usually occurs terrestrially, but may also be epiphytic
Epiphyte
An epiphyte is a plant that grows upon another plant non-parasitically or sometimes upon some other object , derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and sometimes from debris accumulating around it, and is found in the temperate zone and in the...
.
Certain populations of N. spectabilis differ considerably in morphology. Plants from the type locality produce relatively broad upper pitchers, while those from Mount Pangulubao
Mount Pangulubao
Mount Pangulubao or Pangulubau is a mountain near Lake Toba in Sumatra.Mount Pangulubao is notable for the relatively large number of tropical pitcher plant species that inhabit its forests. These include Nepenthes ampullaria, Nepenthes gymnamphora, Nepenthes mikei, Nepenthes ovata, Nepenthes...
are much narrower. A particularly gracile form has been recorded from the west side of Lake Toba. Plants from Mount Siluatan are different still, producing pitchers that are green throughout. The species also exhibits great variability in the extent of 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...
; some plants have a dense covering of hairs, while others are virtually glabrous.
The form of N. spectabilis from Mount Bandahara is very large and has an unusual flared peristome. Plants grow in Sphagnum
Sphagnum
Sphagnum is a genus of between 151 and 350 species of mosses commonly called peat moss, due to its prevalence in peat bogs and mires. A distinction is made between sphagnum moss, the live moss growing on top of a peat bog on one hand, and sphagnum peat moss or sphagnum peat on the other, the...
moss. In 1996, Paul Harwood
Paul Harwood
Paul James Harwood is a former English cricketer. Harwood was a left-handed batsman who bowled right-arm fast-medium. He was born in King's Lynn, Norfolk....
, Heiko Rischer and Andreas Wistuba
Andreas Wistuba
Dr. Andreas Wistuba is a German taxonomist and botanist specialising in the carnivorous plant genera Heliamphora and Nepenthes. More than half of all known Heliamphora species have been described by Wistuba.-Publications:...
observed that the majority of prey in both lower and upper pitchers of this form consisted of beetle
Beetle
Coleoptera is an order of insects commonly called beetles. The word "coleoptera" is from the Greek , koleos, "sheath"; and , pteron, "wing", thus "sheathed wing". Coleoptera contains more species than any other order, constituting almost 25% of all known life-forms...
s. They also found infaunal
Nepenthes infauna
Nepenthes infauna are the organisms that inhabit the pitchers of Nepenthes plants. These include fly and midge larvae, spiders, mites, ants, and even a species of crab, Geosesarma malayanum. The most common and conspicuous predators found in pitchers are mosquito larvae, which consume large...
mosquito
Mosquito
Mosquitoes are members of a family of nematocerid flies: the Culicidae . The word Mosquito is from the Spanish and Portuguese for little fly...
larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
e in the pitchers.
In the wild, N. spectabilis is sympatric with N. flava
Nepenthes flava
Nepenthes flava is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to northern Sumatra, where it grows in montane forest at 1800–2200 m above sea level....
, N. gymnamphora
Nepenthes gymnamphora
Nepenthes gymnamphora is a tropical pitcher plant native to the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra. There is much debate surrounding the taxonomic status of this species and the taxa N. pectinata and N. xiphioides....
, N. mikei
Nepenthes mikei
Nepenthes mikei is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Sumatra. It is characterised by its black mottled lower and upper pitchers. The species is closely related to N. angasanensis and N. tobaica....
, N. ovata
Nepenthes ovata
Nepenthes ovata is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Sumatra. The specific epithet ovata is Latin for "ovate" and refers to the shape of the lower pitchers.-Botanical history:...
, N. rhombicaulis
Nepenthes rhombicaulis
Nepenthes rhombicaulis is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Sumatra. The specific epithet rhombicaulis is formed from the Latin words rhombicus, meaning "rhomboid", and caulis, "stem"...
, and N. rigidifolia
Nepenthes rigidifolia
Nepenthes rigidifolia is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Sumatra, where it grows at elevations of 1000–1600 m above sea level.The specific epithet rigidifolia is formed from the Latin words rigidus and folia . It refers to the stiff, coriaceous texture of the leaf blade...
. Natural hybrids with all of these species except N. flava have been recorded.
Due to the patchy distribution of N. spectabilis, its conservation status
Conservation status
The conservation status of a group of organisms indicates whether the group is still extant and how likely the group is to become extinct in the near future...
is listed as Vulnerable
Vulnerable species
On 30 January 2010, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 9694 Vulnerable species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and sub-populations.-References:...
on the 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
IUCN Red List
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species , founded in 1963, is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature is the world's main authority on the conservation status of species...
. Upon observing N. spectabilis on Mount Pangulubao in 1995, botanist 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...
wrote that he "got the impression that collectors had taken a bit of a toll on the population, partly because very few immature plants were visible".
Related species
Nepenthes lavicola
Nepenthes lavicola is a tropical pitcher plant species endemic to northern Sumatra. It is thought to be most closely related to N. singalana and N. spectabilis....
. It can be distinguished from that species on the basis of its smaller floral bract
Bract
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale. Bracts are often different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture...
s, longer fruit
Fruit
In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
s, and very long unbranched spur
Spur (biology)
A spur in botany is a spike, usually part of a flower.In certain plants, part of a sepal or petal develops into an elongated hollow spike extending behind the flower, containing nectar which is sucked by long-tongued animals . Plants with such structures include Delphinium, Aquilegia, Piperia, and...
. In addition, the species differ in the shape of their lower pitchers. Those of N. lavicola are urceolate to globose, while those of N. spectabilis are ovoid in the lower part and cylindrical above. Furthermore, the pitchers of N. lavicola are generally dark brown or purple throughout, compared to the light green and dark brown speckled traps of N. spectabilis.
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...
mentions an undescribed taxon from Aceh
Aceh
Aceh is a special region of Indonesia, located on the northern tip of the island of Sumatra. Its full name is Daerah Istimewa Aceh , Nanggroë Aceh Darussalam and Aceh . Past spellings of its name include Acheh, Atjeh and Achin...
that is intermediate in appearance between N. lavicola and N. spectabilis. It is unlikely to be of hybridogenic origin as it is not sympatric with any other Nepenthes species.
Nepenthes rigidifolia
Nepenthes rigidifolia
Nepenthes rigidifolia is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Sumatra, where it grows at elevations of 1000–1600 m above sea level.The specific epithet rigidifolia is formed from the Latin words rigidus and folia . It refers to the stiff, coriaceous texture of the leaf blade...
also bears a superficial resemblance to N. spectabilis, particularly in the colouration of its pitchers. Apart from its markedly different upper pitchers, N. spectabilis differs from the former in having thin leaves, an unbranched spur, and an apical tendril insertion.
In his 1928 monograph, B. H. Danser
B. H. Danser
Benedictus Hubertus Danser , often abbreviated B. H. Danser, was a Dutch taxonomist and botanist...
placed N. spectabilis in the Nobiles clade
Clade
A clade is a group consisting of a species and all its descendants. In the terms of biological systematics, a clade is a single "branch" on the "tree of life". The idea that such a "natural group" of organisms should be grouped together and given a taxonomic name is central to biological...
. He wrote:
The third group, that of the Nobiles, comprises the species that form a transition between the Vulgatae and the Montanae on one hand and the Regiae on the other. N. spectabilis, from Sumatra, reminds one of N. sanguinea in many respects but shows a resemblance with the Regiae by the yellowish colour of herbarium specimens and by the red-brown indumentum.
Clarke suggests that N. spectabilis "would perhaps have been better placed in the Montanae, which includes several species that appear to be closely related, such as N. gymnamphora
Nepenthes gymnamphora
Nepenthes gymnamphora is a tropical pitcher plant native to the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra. There is much debate surrounding the taxonomic status of this species and the taxa N. pectinata and N. xiphioides....
and N. pectinata".
In 2001, Clarke published a cladistic analysis of the Nepenthes species of Sumatra and 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...
based on 70 morphological characteristics of each taxon. The resultant cladogram
Cladogram
A cladogram is a diagram used in cladistics which shows ancestral relations between organisms, to represent the evolutionary tree of life. Although traditionally such cladograms were generated largely on the basis of morphological characters, DNA and RNA sequencing data and computational...
placed N. spectabilis in a small clade with N. gymnamphora
Nepenthes gymnamphora
Nepenthes gymnamphora is a tropical pitcher plant native to the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra. There is much debate surrounding the taxonomic status of this species and the taxa N. pectinata and N. xiphioides....
. However, since the study was limited in its geographical scope, this placement may not accurately reflect the relationship between N. spectabilis and its closest relatives.
Natural hybrids
Nepenthes spectabilis occurs sympatrically with many other Nepenthes species and a number of natural hybrids have been recorded.N. ovata × N. spectabilis
Nepenthes ovataNepenthes ovata
Nepenthes ovata is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Sumatra. The specific epithet ovata is Latin for "ovate" and refers to the shape of the lower pitchers.-Botanical history:...
× N. spectabilis is known to occur along the summit trail of Mount Pangulubao. This hybrid produces pitchers roughly intermediate in appearance between its parent species. The peristome is flattened and expanded, but to a lesser degree than in N. ovata. The speckles of N. spectabilis are present, but the pitchers have a much lighter colouration. Most examples of this hybrid grow terrestrially and some climb into the forest canopy.
N. rigidifolia × N. spectabilis
Several plants representing the cross N. rigidifoliaNepenthes rigidifolia
Nepenthes rigidifolia is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Sumatra, where it grows at elevations of 1000–1600 m above sea level.The specific epithet rigidifolia is formed from the Latin words rigidus and folia . It refers to the stiff, coriaceous texture of the leaf blade...
× N. spectabilis have been recorded from an open rocky outcrop close to the type locality of N. rigidifolia. The hybrid differs from N. rigidifolia in having narrower pitchers with an infundibular base and distinct hip around the middle. On the other hand, the pitchers of this hybrid are broader than those of N. spectabilis and have a wider, expanded peristome.
The richly coloured lower pitchers of N. rigidifolia × N. spectabilis superficially resemble those of 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...
. However, since that species is confined 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...
, the two taxa
Taxon
|thumb|270px|[[African elephants]] form a widely-accepted taxon, the [[genus]] LoxodontaA taxon is a group of organisms, which a taxonomist adjudges to be a unit. Usually a taxon is given a name and a rank, although neither is a requirement...
are not easily confused.
Other hybrids
Four other natural hybrids with N. spectabilis have been recorded. These are N. gymnamphoraNepenthes gymnamphora
Nepenthes gymnamphora is a tropical pitcher plant native to the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra. There is much debate surrounding the taxonomic status of this species and the taxa N. pectinata and N. xiphioides....
× N. spectabilis, N. mikei
Nepenthes mikei
Nepenthes mikei is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Sumatra. It is characterised by its black mottled lower and upper pitchers. The species is closely related to N. angasanensis and N. tobaica....
× N. spectabilis, N. rhombicaulis
Nepenthes rhombicaulis
Nepenthes rhombicaulis is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Sumatra. The specific epithet rhombicaulis is formed from the Latin words rhombicus, meaning "rhomboid", and caulis, "stem"...
× N. spectabilis, and N. spectabilis × N. tobaica
Nepenthes tobaica
Nepenthes tobaica is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Sumatra. It is particularly abundant around Lake Toba, after which it is named....
.
External links
- Danser, B.H. 1928. 42. Nepenthes spectabilis DANS., spec. nova. In: 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...
. Bulletin du Jardin Botanique de Buitenzorg, Série III, 9(3–4): 249–438.