Nepenthes northiana
Encyclopedia : N : NE : NEP : Nepenthes northiana
Nepenthes northiana (after Marianne North, who first illustrated the species) is an lowland species of pitcher plant from Borneo. It produces very large and attractive ovoid-shaped pitchers up to 35 cm high. It has an altitudinal range of 0-500 m a.s.l. and is only known from the Bau area, south of Kuching, in Sarawak. It is endemic to limestone substrates.
The pitchers are large and can be up to 35 cm high and 15 cm wide. They are greenish-white in colour with many light-red blotches. Upper pitchers are generally light green to yellow, with a pink or red peristome. The seeds of N. northiana are distinctive, having relatively short appendages, a large embryo and being more woody than those of most other Nepenthes species.
N. northiana is very similar to N. mapuluensis, a species known from only a handful of limestone peaks in Kalimantan Timur, on the other side of the island.
One natural hybrid involving N. northiana has been recorded: N. albomarginata × N. northiana.
The species was first brought to the attention of botanists when Marianne North illustrated plants brought to her from the Bau area. Harry Veitch recognised these as belonging to a new species and arranged for seeds to be collected and sent to Britain. The species was subsequently named after her.
References
- Schnell, D., Catling, P., Folkerts, G., Frost, C., Gardner, R., et al. (2000). [Nepenthes northiana]. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Listed as Vulnerable (VU B1+2e v2.3)
- Clarke, C. 1997. Nepenthes of Borneo. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu, pp. 113-114.
