Nepenthes alata ( /nɪˈpɛnθiːzəˈlɑːtə/ ; from Latin alatus "winged") is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to the Philippines. [7] [17] Like all pitcher plants, it is carnivorous and uses its nectar to attract insects that drown in the pitcher and are digested by the plant. It is highly polymorphic, and its taxonomy continues to be subject to revisions.
N. alata can vary strongly in colouration and morphology. The floral formula is ✶ K4 A4+4+1* G0 for staminate (the apical stamen /*/ may not be present) and ✶ K4 A0 G(4) for pistillate flowers. [18]
Nepenthes alata has long been treated as a highly polymorphic species spanning all the major islands of the Philippine archipelago (with the possible exception of Palawan). [19] Under this broad circumscription, N. alata was understood to have an altitudinal range of 0–1,900 m (0–6,234 ft) above sea level [17] and was recorded from, among others, the islands of Bohol, Camiguin, Cebu, Culion,Leyte, Luzon, Mindanao, Mindoro, Negros, Panay, Samar, [20] [21] and Sibuyan.Nepenthes alata in this broad sense ( sensu lato ) is one of the easiest and most popular Nepenthes in cultivation. [22]
In 2013, N. alata was redelimited by Martin Cheek and Matthew Jebb to encompass only those populations from northern and central Luzon with conspicuously hairy pitchers (a taxon known in horticultural circles as the "hairy N. alata"). [7] Cheek and Jebb's N. alata sensu stricto has an altitudinal distribution of 550 m (1,800 ft) and above. [7] Under this interpretation, the more southerly plants previously referred to this species actually represent the newly resurrected N. graciliflora (the "typical N. alata" of horticulture; found on Bohol, Leyte, Luzon, Mindanao, Mindoro, Panay, Samar, and Sibuyan) as well as the newly described N. negros (Biliran and Negros) and N. ramos (Mindanao). [7] [23] Nepenthes viridis from Dinagat and Samar is another close relative, [24] as are N. ceciliae (Mindanao), N. copelandii (Mindanao), N. extincta (Mindanao), N. hamiguitanensis (Mindanao), N. kitanglad (Mindanao), N. kurata (Mindanao), N. leyte (Leyte), N. mindanaoensis (Dinagat and Mindanao), N. saranganiensis (Mindanao), and N. ultra (Luzon). [7] [17] [23] [25] [26] [27] Together these species form the so-called "N. alata group", being united by a number of morphological characters including winged petioles, lids with basal ridges on the lower surface (often elaborated into appendages), and upper pitchers that are usually broadest near the base. [25]
Nepenthes alata is closely related to several other species, including N. copelandii , N. mindanaoensis , and N. saranganiensis . Nepenthes eustachya from Sumatra was once considered to fall within the variability of N. alata, but this was based on a misinterpretation of type specimens; these two species do not seem closely related to each other.[ citation needed ]
| Morphological character | N. alata | N. eustachya |
|---|---|---|
| Leaf blade | lanceolate-ovate | lanceolate |
| Leaf apex | acute or attenuate | rounded to sub-peltate |
| Petiole | broadly winged | scarcely or not winged |
| Spur | simple, acutely pointed | simple or bifurcate |
| Indumentum | reddish or whitish hairs | absent throughout |
| Structure of pitcher base | texture similar to rest of pitcher, abruptly attenuate to tendril | angular, woody, gradually attenuate to tendril |
Nepenthes truncata is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to the Philippines. It is known from the islands of Dinagat, Leyte, and Mindanao. The species grows at an elevation of 0–1500 m above sea level. Nepenthes truncata is characterised by its heart-shaped (truncate) leaves and very large pitchers, which can reach up to 40 cm in height.
Nepenthes ventricosa is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to the Philippines, where it is a highland species, growing at an elevation of 1,000–2,000 metres (3,300–6,600 ft) above sea level. It has been recorded from the islands of Luzon, Panay, and Sibuyan. The pitchers are numerous, growing up to 20 centimetres (8 in) tall and ranging in colour from ivory white to red.
Nepenthes copelandii is a species of pitcher plant native to the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. Originally known from Mount Apo near Davao City and Mount Pasian near Bislig, it has since been discovered on a number of peaks throughout Mindanao. It may also be present on the nearby island of Camiguin. The species has a wide altitudinal distribution of 1100–2400 m above sea level. Nepenthes copelandii has no known natural hybrids. No forms or varieties have been described.
Nepenthes mindanaoensis is a tropical pitcher plant native to the Philippine islands of Mindanao and Dinagat.
Nepenthes philippinensis is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to the Philippines. It is known from Palawan and the neighbouring Calamian Islands and Linapacan, where it grows at 0–600 metres (2,000 ft) above sea level.
Nepenthes saranganiensis is a tropical pitcher plant native to the Philippine island of Mindanao. It is noted for its extremely decurrent leaf attachment that extends a large distance down the stem, often continuing into the next internode.
Nepenthes merrilliana is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to the Philippines. It produces some of the largest pitchers in the genus, rivalling those of N. rajah.
Nepenthes argentii is a highland Nepenthes pitcher plant native to Mount Guiting-Guiting on Sibuyan Island in the Philippines. It is possibly the smallest species in the genus and does not appear to have a climbing stage.
Nepenthes mira is a highland pitcher plant endemic to Palawan in the Philippines. It grows at elevations of 1550–1605 m above sea level.
Nepenthes petiolata is a highland Nepenthes pitcher plant species endemic to Mindanao island in the Philippines, where it grows at an elevation of 1,450–1,900 metres (4,800–6,200 ft) above sea level.
Nepenthes graciliflora is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to the Philippines. Long considered a synonym of N. alata, it was restored as a separate species in 2013 by Martin Cheek and Matthew Jebb. It has been recorded from the islands of Bohol, Leyte, Luzon, Mindanao, Mindoro, Panay, Samar, and Sibuyan, and following the redelimitation of N. alata is the most widespread Nepenthes species of the Philippines. It is known from mossy, submontane forest, generally at 800–1,280 metres (3,000–4,000 ft) altitude, though the type specimen from Sibuyan was collected at only 300 m (1,000 ft).
Nepenthes ceciliae is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to the Philippine island of Mindanao, where it grows at 1500–1880 m above sea level. Its discovery was announced online in August 2011.
Nepenthes ramos is a tropical pitcher plant native to the northeastern Mindanao, Philippines. It is known from only a handful of herbarium specimens collected in 1919 at an elevation of 670 m above sea level. It likely grows in the forest on ultramafic soils.
Nepenthes negros is a tropical pitcher plant native to the Philippines, specifically the islands of Biliran and Negros.
Nepenthes viridis is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to the Philippines. It is known only from coastal areas at low altitude and has been recorded from Dinagat, Samar, and a number of surrounding islets. It is closely allied to the N. alata group of species.
Nepenthes ultra is a tropical pitcher plant native to the Philippine island of Luzon, where it grows at low altitude on ultramafic soils.
Nepenthes cornuta is a tropical pitcher plant native to the Philippines. It is known only from the Pantaron Mountain Range of central Mindanao, where it grows terrestrially on ultramafic soils at around 1000 m above sea level.
Nepenthes talaandig is a tropical pitcher plant native to the Philippines. It is known only from the Pantaron Mountain Range of central Mindanao, where it grows terrestrially on ultramafic soils at around 1000 m above sea level.
