Nepenthes maxima

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Nepenthes maxima
Nepenthes maxima Sulawesi1.jpg
An upper pitcher of Nepenthes maxima from Sulawesi (~400 m asl)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Nepenthaceae
Genus: Nepenthes
Species:
N. maxima
Binomial name
Nepenthes maxima
Reinw. ex Nees (1824)
Synonyms
  • Nepenthes boschiana
    auct. non Korth.: Becc. (1878)
  • Nepenthes celebica
    Hook.f. (1873) [2]
  • Nepenthes curtisii
    Mast. (1887) [3]
  • Nepenthes curtisii var. superba
    Hort.Veitch ex Marshall (1889)
  • Nepenthes dayana
    A.Truffaut ex M.J.Sallier (1894) nom.superfl.
  • N. maxima × N. albomarginata
    Hort.Bednar (1987)
  • Nepenthes oblanceolata
    Ridl. (1916) [4]
  • Nepenthes spectabilis
    auct. non Danser: Hort. ex Hort.Bednar (1987)
  • "Cantharifera alba"
    Rumph. (1750)
An upper pitcher of a plant matching the description of N. oblanceolata, which is sometimes regarded as a synonym of N. maxima Nepenthes oblanceolata upper pitcher.jpg
An upper pitcher of a plant matching the description of N. oblanceolata, which is sometimes regarded as a synonym of N. maxima
A rosette plant of N. oblanceolata from near Wamena, Baliem Valley, New Guinea Nepenthes oblanceolata plant.jpg
A rosette plant of N. oblanceolata from near Wamena, Baliem Valley, New Guinea
Male inflorescence Male Flower of Nepenthes maxima.JPG
Male inflorescence
Infructescence Female Flower of Nepenthes maxima.JPG
Infructescence

Nepenthes maxima ( /nɪˈpɛnθiːzˈmæksɪmə/ ; from Latin: maximus "greatest"), the great pitcher-plant, [5] is a carnivorous pitcher plant species of the genus Nepenthes . It has a relatively wide distribution covering New Guinea, Sulawesi, and the Maluku Islands. [6] It may also be present on Wowoni Island. [7]

Nepenthes maxima belongs to the loosely defined "N. maxima complex", which also includes, among other species, N. boschiana , N. chaniana , N. epiphytica , N. eymae , N. faizaliana , N. fusca , N. klossii , N. platychila , N. stenophylla , and N. vogelii . [8]

Variability

This species exhibits great variability across its range, particularly in the plasticity of its pitchers. [9] Plants growing in drier, somewhat seasonal parts of New Guinea generally produce elongated pitchers with narrow peristomes and well-developed waxy zones, while those inhabiting perhumid areas often have a reduced waxy zone and enlarged peristome. This is thought to be because the peristome, when fully wetted, is more effective at trapping prey than the waxy zone, but performs poorly in drier conditions. [10] [11]

Lower and upper pitchers of various forms of N. maxima from around the Anggi Lakes, West Papua, New Guinea

Certain forms of N. maxima produce distinctly wavy laminar margins, a trait particularly common in plants from Sulawesi. [6] [12] In extreme examples, even the decurrent wings of the leaf—which can extend down the entire length of the stem's internode—may be highly undulate. [13] Such rippled patterns result from increased cell growth near the edges of the leaf, which causes its thin, planar surface to buckle as it assumes the conformation with the lowest energy state. [14]

Nepenthes maxima exhibits extraordinary variability across its range, as evident in this selection of upper pitchers produced by plants from (left to right, top to bottom) Sulawesi at 400 m, Sulawesi at 700 m, New Guinea at 1500 m, New Guinea at 1600 m, New Guinea at 1700 m (two pitchers), New Guinea at 2300 m, and New Guinea at 2600 m.

Infraspecific taxa

In 2009, a cultivar from Lake Poso in Sulawesi was named Nepenthes maxima 'Lake Poso'. [15] In 2016, this taxon was described as a species in its own right, N. minima . [16]

Natural hybrids

Related Research Articles

<i>Nepenthes ampullaria</i> Species of pitcher plant

Nepenthes ampullaria is a very distinctive and widespread species of tropical pitcher plant, present in Borneo, the Maluku Islands, New Guinea, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, and Thailand.

<i>Nepenthes gracilis</i> Species of pitcher plant from Southeast Asia

Nepenthes gracilis, or the slender pitcher-plant, is a common lowland pitcher plant that is widespread in the Sunda region. It has been recorded from Borneo, Cambodia, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Sulawesi, Sumatra, and Thailand. The species has a wide altitudinal distribution of 0 to 1100 m above sea level, although most populations are found below 100 m and plants are rare above 1000 m. Despite being a widespread plant, natural hybrids between N. gracilis and other species are quite rare.

<i>Nepenthes tentaculata</i> Species of pitcher plant from Southeast Asia

Nepenthes tentaculata, or the fringed pitcher-plant, is a tropical pitcher plant with a wide distribution across Borneo and Sulawesi. It grows at altitudes of 400–2550 m.

<i>Nepenthes hirsuta</i> Species of pitcher plant from Borneo

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.

<i>Nepenthes reinwardtiana</i> Species of pitcher plant from Southeast Asia

Nepenthes reinwardtiana is a tropical pitcher plant native to Borneo and Sumatra and to a number of smaller surrounding islands including Bangka, Natuna, Nias, and Siberut. Although some sources have included Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore within the range of this species, these records appear to be erroneous.

<i>Nepenthes veitchii</i> Species of pitcher plant from Borneo

Nepenthes veitchii, or Veitch's pitcher-plant, is a Nepenthes species from the island of Borneo. The plant is widespread in north-western Borneo and can also be found in parts of Kalimantan. It grows in lowland Dipterocarp forest, typically near rivers, and on ridgetops in mossy forests, from 0 to 1,600 meters elevation. Nepenthes veitchii usually grows as an epiphyte, though the form from Bario seems to be strictly terrestrial and has not been observed to climb trees.

<i>Nepenthes mirabilis</i> Wide-ranging species of tropical pitcher plant

Nepenthes mirabilis, or the common swamp pitcher-plant and tropical pitcher plant, is a carnivorous plant species. By far the most widespread of all Nepenthes, its range covers continental Southeast Asia and all major islands of the Malay Archipelago, stretching from China in the north to Australia in the south. The species exhibits great variability throughout its range. One of the more notable varieties, N. mirabilis var. echinostoma, is endemic to Brunei and Sarawak and possesses an extremely wide peristome.

<i>Nepenthes stenophylla</i> Species of pitcher plant from Borneo

Nepenthes stenophylla, or the narrow-leaved pitcher-plant, is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Borneo. The species produces attractive funnel-shaped pitchers up to 25 cm high. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Nepenthes stenophylla belongs to the loosely defined "N. maxima complex", which also includes, among other species, N. boschiana, N. chaniana, N. epiphytica, N. eymae, N. faizaliana, N. fusca, N. klossii, N. maxima, N. platychila, and N. vogelii.

<i>Nepenthes ephippiata</i> Species of pitcher plant from Borneo

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. It grows in montane forest from 1,000 to 1,900 meters elevation.

<i>Nepenthes boschiana</i> Species of pitcher plant from Borneo

Nepenthes boschiana, or Bosch's pitcher-plant, is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Borneo. It is most closely allied to N. faizaliana. Nepenthes borneensis is considered a synonym of this species. Nepenthes boschiana has no known natural hybrids. No valid forms or varieties have been described. Nepenthes boschiana belongs to the loosely defined "N. maxima complex", which also includes, among other species, N. chaniana, N. epiphytica, N. eymae, N. faizaliana, N. fusca, N. klossii, N. maxima, N. platychila, N. stenophylla, and N. vogelii.

<i>Nepenthes faizaliana</i> Species of pitcher plant from Borneo

Nepenthes faizaliana is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to the limestone cliffs of Gunung Mulu National Park in Sarawak, Borneo. It is thought to be most closely related to N. boschiana.

<i>Nepenthes bongso</i> Species of pitcher plant from Sumatra

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.

<i>Nepenthes glabrata</i> Species of pitcher plant from Indonesia

Nepenthes glabrata is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Sulawesi. The species grows in open, high forest at elevations of 1600 to 2100 m. It produces dainty, colourful pitchers reaching only a few centimetres in height. These traps are red speckled on a yellowish background, giving them a "hand painted" appearance.

<i>Nepenthes gymnamphora</i> Species of pitcher plant from Indonesia

Nepenthes gymnamphora is a tropical pitcher plant native to the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra. It has a wide altitudinal range of 600–2,800 metres (2,000–9,200 ft) above sea level. There is much debate surrounding the taxonomic status of this species and the taxa N. pectinata and N. xiphioides.

<i>Nepenthes eymae</i> Species of pitcher plant from Sulawesi

Nepenthes eymae is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Sulawesi in Indonesia, where it grows at elevations of 1,000–2,000 m (3,300–6,600 ft) above sea level. It is very closely related to N. maxima, from which it differs in its wine glass-shaped upper pitchers.

<i>Nepenthes danseri</i> Species of pitcher plant from Indonesia

Nepenthes danseri is a species of tropical pitcher plant. It is known only from the northern coast of Waigeo Island; plants from Halmahera, the largest of the Maluku Islands, are now recognised as belonging to a separate species, N. halmahera.

<i>Nepenthes singalana</i> Species of pitcher plant from Sumatra

Nepenthes singalana is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to the island of Sumatra, where it grows at 2000–2900 m above sea level. It is most closely allied to N. diatas and N. spathulata.

<i>Nepenthes tomoriana</i> Species of pitcher plant from Sulawesi

Nepenthes tomoriana is a species of pitcher plant endemic to Sulawesi, where it grows at an elevation of 0–500 m above sea level.

<i>Nepenthes chaniana</i> Species of pitcher plant from Borneo

Nepenthes chaniana is a tropical pitcher plant species belonging to the genus Nepenthes. It is characterised by a dense indumentum of long, white hairs. Pitchers are cylindrical and mostly white to yellow in colouration. Nepenthes chaniana belongs to the loosely defined "N. maxima complex", which also includes, among other species, N. boschiana, N. epiphytica, N. eymae, N. faizaliana, N. fusca, N. klossii, N. maxima, N. platychila, N. stenophylla, and N. vogelii.

References

  1. ↑ Clarke, C.M. (2018). "Nepenthes maxima". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T39675A143962061. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T39675A143962061.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ↑ (in Latin) Hooker, J.D. 1873. Ordo CLXXV bis. Nepenthaceæ. In: A. de Candolle Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis 17: 90–105.
  3. ↑ Masters, M.T. 1887. New or noteworthy plants. Nepenthes Curtisii, Mast., sp. nov.. The Gardeners' Chronicle, series 3, 2(49): 681, 689.
  4. ↑ Ridley, H.N. 1916. Nepenthaceæ. [pp. 139–141] In: I. Report on the botany of the Wollaston Expedition to Dutch New Guinea, 1912–13. The Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, series 2: botany, 9(1): 1–269. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.1916.tb00009.x
  5. ↑ Phillipps, A. & A. Lamb 1996. Pitcher-Plants of Borneo . Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 McPherson, S.R. 2009. Pitcher Plants of the Old World . 2 volumes. Redfern Natural History Productions, Poole.
  7. ↑ (in Indonesian) Sunarti, S., A. Hidayat & Rugayah 2008. Keanekaragaman tumbuhan di hutan Pegunungan Waworete, Kecamatan Wawonii Timur, Pulau Wawonii, Sulawesi Tenggara. [Plants diversity at the mountain forest of Waworete, East Wawonii District, Wawonii Island, Southeast Sulawesi.] Biodiversitas9(3): 194–198.
  8. ↑ Robinson, A.S., J. Nerz & A. Wistuba 2011. Nepenthes epiphytica, a new pitcher plant from East Kalimantan. In: McPherson, S.R. New Nepenthes: Volume One . Redfern Natural History Productions, Poole. pp. 36–51.
  9. ↑ (in German) Marwinski, D. 2014. Eine Expedition nach West-Papua oder auf den Spuren von Nepenthes paniculata. Das Taublatt 78: 11–44.
  10. ↑ Clarke, C. 2013. What Can Tree Shrews Tell Us about the Effects of Climate Change on Pitcher Plants? [video] TESS seminars, 25 September 2013.
  11. ↑ Moran, J.A., L.K. Gray, C. Clarke & L. Chin 2013. Capture mechanism in Palaeotropical pitcher plants (Nepenthaceae) is constrained by climate. Annals of Botany112(7): 1279–1291. doi : 10.1093/aob/mct195
  12. ↑ [Anonymous] 2013. "BE-3543 Nepenthes maxima - wavy leaf" (PDF).Nepenthes Growers Newsletter2(2): 7–8.
  13. ↑ Bourke, G. 2010. "Plant profile: Nepenthes maxima" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-04-09. Retrieved 2012-10-21.Captive Exotics Newsletter1(1): 9–10.
  14. ↑ Sharon, E., M. Marder & H.L. Swinney 2004. Leaves, flowers and garbage bags: making waves. Archived 2013-10-16 at the Wayback Machine American Scientist92(3): 254–261.
  15. 1 2 Evans, D.P. 2009. New Cultivars: Nepenthes maxima 'Lake Poso'. Carnivorous Plant Newsletter 38(1): 18–22.
  16. ↑ Cheek, M. & M.H.P. Jebb (2016). Nepenthes minima (Nepenthaceae), a new pyrophytic grassland species from Sulawesi, Indonesia. Blumea61: 181–185. doi : 10.3767/000651916X693509
  17. ↑ McPherson, S.R. & A. Robinson 2012. Field Guide to the Pitcher Plants of Sulawesi . Redfern Natural History Productions, Poole.

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