The Nepenthaceae of the Netherlands Indies
Encyclopedia
"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
. It was originally published in the Bulletin du Jardin Botanique de Buitenzorg in 1928, and reprinted by Natural History Publications (Borneo)
in April 2006 (ISBN 983-812-115-0) with an introduction by Charles Clarke
.
Danser recognised 65 species, including 17 newly described taxa
: N. carunculata (later synonymised with N. bongso
), N. clipeata
, N. dubia
, N. ephippiata
, N. fusca
, N. inermis
, N. insignis
, N. leptochila (later synonymised with N. hirsuta
), N. mollis
, N. paniculata
, N. papuana
, N. pectinata (later synonymised with N. gymnamphora
), N. petiolata
, N. pilosa
, N. spectabilis
, N. tobaica
, and N. tomoriana
. All were described in great detail, with many accompanied by line drawings. Danser synonymised N. edwardsiana
with N. villosa
and N. ramispina
with N. gracillima
; both of these were later reinstated as valid species.
Danser divided the genus
Nepenthes
into six clades based on observations of herbarium material. The clades were: Vulgatae, Montanae, Nobiles, Regiae, Insignes, and Urceolatae. Danser's classification was undoubtedly a great improvement on previous attempts, and forms the basis of more recent monographs, such as those of Charles Clarke
(Nepenthes of Borneo
and Nepenthes of Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia
) and Matthew Jebb
and Martin Cheek
("A skeletal revision of Nepenthes (Nepenthaceae)
" and "Nepenthaceae
"). Charles Clarke writes that Danser's monograph "remains the definitive taxonomic work on Nepenthes" and explains its importance as follows:
Following this exhaustive revision of the genus, Danser described only two more Nepenthes species: Nepenthes spathulata
in 1935 and Nepenthes densiflora
in 1940, with both descriptions also published in the Bulletin du Jardin Botanique de Buitenzorg.
:
Rice pointed out the "[u]nfortunate omissions" of Danser's 1935 and 1940 papers, but concluded by saying that "the new version of Danser (1928) is still a valuable addition to our ever-enlarging collections of carnivorous plant books".
Monograph
A monograph is a work of writing upon a single subject, usually by a single author.It is often a scholarly essay or learned treatise, and may be released in the manner of a book or journal article. It is by definition a single document that forms a complete text in itself...
by B. H. Danser
B. H. Danser
Benedictus Hubertus Danser , often abbreviated B. H. Danser, was a Dutch taxonomist and botanist...
on the tropical pitcher plants
Nepenthes
The Nepenthes , popularly known as tropical pitcher plants or monkey cups, are a genus of carnivorous plants in the monotypic family Nepenthaceae. The genus comprises roughly 130 species, numerous natural and many cultivated hybrids...
of the Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
, North Borneo
North Borneo
North Borneo was a British protectorate under the sovereign North Borneo Chartered Company from 1882 to 1946. After the war it became a crown colony of Great Britain from 1946 to 1963, known in this time as British North Borneo. It is located on the northeastern end of the island of Borneo. It is...
, the Malay Peninsula
Malay Peninsula
The Malay Peninsula or Thai-Malay Peninsula is a peninsula in Southeast Asia. The land mass runs approximately north-south and, at its terminus, is the southern-most point of the Asian mainland...
, and eastern New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
. It was originally published in the Bulletin du Jardin Botanique de Buitenzorg in 1928, and reprinted by Natural History Publications (Borneo)
Natural History Publications (Borneo)
Natural History Publications Sdn. Bhd. is a publishing house based in Kota Kinabalu, Borneo. It is among the leading English language and natural history publishers in Malaysia and the entire Southeast Asian region...
in April 2006 (ISBN 983-812-115-0) with an introduction by 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...
.
Danser recognised 65 species, including 17 newly described 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...
: N. carunculata (later synonymised with N. bongso
Nepenthes bongso
Nepenthes bongso is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Sumatra, where it has an altitudinal distribution of 1000–2700 m above sea level. The specific epithet bongso refers to the Indonesian legend of Putri Bungsu , the spirit guardian of Mount Marapi.The species was formally described by Pieter...
), N. clipeata
Nepenthes clipeata
Nepenthes clipeata , or the Shield-Leaved Pitcher-Plant, is a tropical pitcher plant known only from the near-vertical granite cliff faces of Mount Kelam in Kalimantan, Borneo...
, N. dubia
Nepenthes dubia
Nepenthes dubia is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Sumatra. The specific epithet dubia is the Latin word for "doubtful".-Botanical history:...
, N. ephippiata
Nepenthes ephippiata
Nepenthes ephippiata , or the Saddle-Leaved Pitcher-Plant, is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Borneo. It occurs in the Hose Mountains of central Sarawak, as well as Mount Raya and Bukit Lesung in Kalimantan. Plants from the Hose Mountains appear to lack the decurrent leaf attachment found in...
, N. fusca
Nepenthes fusca
Nepenthes fusca , or the Dusky Pitcher-Plant, is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Borneo. It is found throughout a wide altitudinal range and is almost always epiphytic in nature, primarily growing in mossy forest....
, N. inermis
Nepenthes inermis
Nepenthes inermis is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Sumatra. The specific epithet inermis is Latin for "unarmed" and probably refers to the upper pitchers of this species, which are unique in that they completely lack a peristome....
, N. insignis
Nepenthes insignis
Nepenthes insignis is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to New Guinea and surrounding islands. The specific epithet insignis is Latin for "distinguished" or "remarkable".-Botanical history:...
, N. leptochila (later synonymised with N. hirsuta
Nepenthes hirsuta
Nepenthes hirsuta , the Hairy Pitcher-Plant, is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Borneo. It is characterised by an indumentum of thick brown hairs, which is even present on the inflorescence. Pitchers are mostly green throughout with some having red blotches on the inside surfaces.N. hirsuta...
), N. mollis
Nepenthes mollis
Nepenthes mollis , or the Velvet Pitcher-Plant, is a tropical pitcher plant species native to Kalimantan, Borneo. It is known only from a single dried herbarium specimen and is the sole recognised species in the genus Nepenthes of which the pitchers are unknown.The habitat of N. mollis is listed as...
, N. paniculata
Nepenthes paniculata
Nepenthes paniculata is a species of pitcher plant belonging to the genus Nepenthes.Nepenthes paniculata is probably endemic to Mount Doorman Top in New Guinea . It has been recorded from mossy forest on a ridge top at 1,460 m altitude....
, N. papuana
Nepenthes papuana
Nepenthes papuana is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to New Guinea. The specific epithet papuana is derived from Papua, an alternative name for the island.-Botanical history:...
, N. pectinata (later synonymised 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....
), N. petiolata
Nepenthes petiolata
Nepenthes petiolata is a highland Nepenthes pitcher plant species endemic to Mindanao island in the Philippines, where it grows at an elevation of 1450–1900 m above sea level.-Natural hybrids:*? N. alata × N. petiolata...
, N. pilosa
Nepenthes pilosa
Nepenthes pilosa is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Borneo. It is characterised by a dense indumentum of long yellow-brown hairs. Pitchers have a distinctive hook-shaped appendage on the underside of the lid...
, N. spectabilis
Nepenthes spectabilis
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".-Botanical history:...
, 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....
, and N. tomoriana
Nepenthes tomoriana
Nepenthes tomoriana is a species of pitcher plant endemic to Sulawesi, where it grows at an elevation of 0–500 m above sea level.-References:...
. All were described in great detail, with many accompanied by line drawings. Danser synonymised 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...
with 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...
and N. ramispina
Nepenthes ramispina
Nepenthes ramispina is a highland Nepenthes pitcher plant species, native to Peninsular Malaysia. It is very similar to N. gracillma and there is much debate about whether the two should be treated as separate species.-Natural hybrids:...
with N. gracillima
Nepenthes gracillima
Nepenthes gracillima is a highland Nepenthes pitcher plant species, native to Peninsular Malaysia.-Infraspecific taxa:*Nepenthes gracillima f. ramispina Hort.Westphal [=N. ramispina]...
; both of these were later reinstated as valid species.
Danser divided the genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Nepenthes
Nepenthes
The Nepenthes , popularly known as tropical pitcher plants or monkey cups, are a genus of carnivorous plants in the monotypic family Nepenthaceae. The genus comprises roughly 130 species, numerous natural and many cultivated hybrids...
into six clades based on observations of herbarium material. The clades were: Vulgatae, Montanae, Nobiles, Regiae, Insignes, and Urceolatae. Danser's classification was undoubtedly a great improvement on previous attempts, and forms the basis of more recent monographs, such as those 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...
(Nepenthes of Borneo
Nepenthes of Borneo
Nepenthes of Borneo is a monograph by Charles Clarke on the tropical pitcher plants of Borneo. It was first published in 1997 by Natural History Publications , and reprinted in 2006. Clarke describes it as "primarily an ecological monograph"...
and Nepenthes of Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia
Nepenthes of Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia
Nepenthes of Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia is a monograph by Charles Clarke on the tropical pitcher plants of Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, and their minor surrounding islands. It was published in 2001 by Natural History Publications...
) and 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,...
("A skeletal revision of Nepenthes (Nepenthaceae)
A skeletal revision of Nepenthes (Nepenthaceae)
"A skeletal revision of Nepenthes " is a monograph by Matthew Jebb and Martin Cheek on the tropical pitcher plants of the genus Nepenthes. It was published in the May 1997 issue of the botanical journal Blumea. The work represented the first revision of the entire genus since John Muirhead...
" and "Nepenthaceae
Nepenthaceae (2001 monograph)
"Nepenthaceae" is a monograph by Martin Cheek and Matthew Jebb on the tropical pitcher plants of Malesia, which encompasses Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Singapore. It was published in 2001 by the National Herbarium of the Netherlands as the fifteenth volume of...
"). Charles Clarke writes that Danser's monograph "remains the definitive taxonomic work on Nepenthes" and explains its importance as follows:
The discoveries of the early 20th century were brought together by Danser and neatly integrated to shed light on many of the unsolved problems of Macfarlane's monograph. Although he did not collect the material he used, Danser seemed to have gained a good understanding of the genus, which extended beyond classical taxonomy. He speculated about the relationships between certain species on the basis of their evolution and ecology as much as their structural characteristics–something that nobody had done previously.
Following this exhaustive revision of the genus, Danser described only two more Nepenthes species: Nepenthes spathulata
Nepenthes spathulata
Nepenthes spathulata is a tropical pitcher plant native to Java and Sumatra, where it grows at elevations of between 1100 and 2900 m above sea level. The specific epithet spathulata is derived from the Latin word spathulatus, meaning "spatula shaped", and refers to the shape of the...
in 1935 and Nepenthes densiflora
Nepenthes densiflora
Nepenthes densiflora is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Sumatra, where it grows at an altitude of between 1700 and 3200 m above sea level.No forms or varieties of N. densiflora have been described.-Taxonomy:...
in 1940, with both descriptions also published in the Bulletin du Jardin Botanique de Buitenzorg.
Reprint
The 2006 reprint of "The Nepenthaceae of the Netherlands Indies" was reviewed by Barry Rice in the September 2007 issue of the Carnivorous Plant NewsletterCarnivorous 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:...
:
Having a high quality copy of the work is very desirable so you can easily cross reference its contents with subsequent Nepenthes monographs. The line drawings are far more nicely presented than can be obtained from photocopied or web versions.
To add further delight to the pleasure, the famous Nepenthes expert Dr. Charles Clarke helps lead this voyage of adventure on the high seas of Nepenthes history, by prefacing the work with a fifteen page discussion of Danser—both the man and the eponymous work. With Clarke as your Admiral at the helm, Danser is more approachable than ever before.
Rice pointed out the "[u]nfortunate omissions" of Danser's 1935 and 1940 papers, but concluded by saying that "the new version of Danser (1928) is still a valuable addition to our ever-enlarging collections of carnivorous plant books".