Nepenthes murudensis

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Nepenthes murudensis
Murud N. murudensis 14.jpg
An upper pitcher of Nepenthes murudensis
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Nepenthaceae
Genus: Nepenthes
Species:
N. murudensis
Binomial name
Nepenthes murudensis
Culham ex Jebb & Cheek (1997) [2]

Nepenthes murudensis /nɪˈpɛnθiːzˌmʊrʊˈdɛnsɪs/ , or the Murud pitcher-plant, [3] is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Mount Murud in Borneo, after which it is named. It is of putative hybrid origin: its two original parent species are thought to be N. reinwardtiana and N. tentaculata . [4]

Botanical history

Nepenthes murudensis was known for some time prior to its description, although authors differed as to its identity. In 1988, Anthea Phillipps and Anthony Lamb suggested that it might represent a natural hybrid between N. reinwardtiana and N. tentaculata . [5] However, in their 1996 monograph, Pitcher-Plants of Borneo , the authors treated it as a species in the process of being described, referring to it as "Nepenthes murudensis Culham ined.". [3] This name had been given to the taxon informally by Alastair Culham [6] and was in use since at least 1994. [7]

Nepenthes murudensis was formally described in 1997 by Matthew Jebb and Martin Cheek in their monograph, "A skeletal revision of Nepenthes (Nepenthaceae)", published in the botanical journal Blumea . [2] At the time of its description, botanists were divided on whether N. murudensis should be considered a species, although the consensus view held that it was of hybridogenic origin. [8] [9] [10] [11]

The holotype of N. murudensis, Yii Puan Ching S 44623, was collected on September 13, 1982, between the first and second summits of Mount Murud. It is deposited at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. [2] [12] Another specimen, Beaman 11461, was collected by John H. Beaman between April 10 and April 17, 1995, from the summit ridge of Mount Murud at an elevation of between 2300 and 2400 m above sea level. [13] This latter specimen was collected as part of the eighth botanical expedition to Mount Murud since Eric Mjöberg's first ascent in 1922. [13]

The close relationship between N. murudensis and its putative parent species has led to some confusion in the literature. One example of this appears in the article "Nepenthes of Gunung Murud", authored by John De Witte and published in a 1996 issue of the Carnivorous Plant Newsletter , [14] where an upper pitcher of N. murudensis is identified as N. tentaculata .

Description

Nepenthes murudensis is a climbing plant. The stem can attain a length of 5 m and is up to 5 mm wide. Internodes are triangular in cross section and up to 10 cm long. [4]

A lower pitcher embedded in moss Murud N. murudensis 12.jpg
A lower pitcher embedded in moss

Leaves are coriaceous and adnate. The lamina is oblong-elliptic in shape and reaches 12 cm in length by 4 cm in width. [3] The apex of the lamina is rounded-obtuse and the base is decurrent for up to 2 cm. Up to 5 longitudinal veins are present on either side of the midrib. Pinnate veins are indistinct. [4]

Rosette and lower pitchers are ovoid in the basal portion, becoming sub-cylindrical above. They reach 20 cm in height and 5 cm in width. A pair of fringed wings (≤6 mm wide) runs down the front of the pitcher. [4] The waxy zone of the inner surface is well developed. [15] The pitcher mouth is ovate and has an oblique insertion. The peristome is a flattened cylinder in cross section and is up to 5 mm wide. The lid or operculum is ovate-obovate in shape and lacks appendages. It has a rounded apex, a truncate base, [4] and measures up to 6 cm by 5 cm. [3] Large nectar glands are concentrated along the midrib of the lid. [3] An unbranched spur (≤9 mm long) is inserted near the base of the lid. [4]

A climbing stem with upper pitchers Murud N. murudensis 4.jpg
A climbing stem with upper pitchers

Upper pitchers are similar to their lower counterparts, but differ in being more cylindrical and elongate. They are also larger, growing to 30 cm in height. Wings are reduced to a pair of prominent ribs in upper pitchers. [4] Both lower and upper pitchers have an unusually long waxy zone, which in the latter extends for as much as three-quarters or more of the pitcher length. [3]

Nepenthes murudensis has a racemose inflorescence, with male and female inflorescences differing little in structure. It is very compact: the peduncle reaches 3 cm in length and 7 mm in diameter, while the rachis may be up to 6 cm long. Pedicels are one-flowered, bracteolate, and up to 7 mm long. Sepals are elliptic and up to 5 mm long. [4]

Most parts of the plant are virtually glabrous, although a short, dense indumentum of velvety brown hairs is present on the stem, inflorescences, and lamina midribs. [4]

Ecology

Nepenthes murudensis is endemic to the summit area of Mount Murud in Sarawak, Borneo, [4] and is the only Nepenthes species endemic to the Kelabit Highlands. [16] It has an elevational distribution of 2000–2423 m above sea level. [17]

N. murudensis growing in mossy forest Murud N. murudensis.jpg
N. murudensis growing in mossy forest

The typical habitat of this species consists of stunted montane scrub and ridge vegetation, which rarely exceeds 1.5 m in height. [3] The species also occurs in mossy forest. [4] Nepenthes murudensis has no known natural hybrids, [4] [17] although N. hurrelliana , N. lowii , N. muluensis and N. tentaculata also occur on the mountain. [3] In 1996, John De Witte reported observing N. reinwardtiana on Mount Murud, [14] [18] but other authors have failed to find it on the mountain. [3] [9]

Nepenthes murudensis often scrambles over low vegetation, but also grows as rosettes in open areas. Botanist Andrew Hurrell has described plants growing on the summit as small rosettes rarely exceeding 30 cm in height, with proportionately huge pitchers sometimes measuring over 30 cm themselves. [3]

Two true toad species from Mount Murud, Pelophryne linanitensis and Pelophryne murudensis , are sympatric with N. murudensis and may breed in its pitchers. [19]

The conservation status of N. murudensis is listed as Least concern on the IUCN Red List based on an assessment carried out in 2018. [1] Previous assessments, including that by Charles Clarke in 1997, classified the species as Endangered based on the IUCN criteria. [4]

Hybrid origin

Nepreinwardtiana.jpg
Pinnacles N. tentaculata.jpg
Upper pitchers of N. reinwardtiana (left) and an upper pitcher of N. tentaculata from Mount Api (right)

The pitchers of N. murudensis are roughly intermediate in appearance between those of N. reinwardtiana and N. tentaculata, although significantly larger than either. This has led to speculation regarding the lineage of this species, with a number of authors suggesting a possible hybridogenic origin. [4] [5] [12]

Botanist Clive A. Stace writes that one may speak of "stabilised hybrids when they have developed a distributional, morphological or genetic set of characters which is no longer strictly related to that of its parents, [...] if the hybrid has become an independent, recognisable, self-producing unit, it is de facto a separate species". [20] This would tend to support the status of N. murudensis as a species, since populations of this taxon appear to be stabilised [8] as well as highly homogeneous, [9] and it is one of the most abundant Nepenthes on the summit ridge of Mount Murud. [3] Examples of other Nepenthes species with a putative hybrid origin include N. hamiguitanensis , N. hurrelliana , and N. petiolata . [17] [21] [22]

Alternatively, N. murudensis may have evolved from populations of N. tentaculata that underwent speciation, possibly in isolation. [4]

Nepenthes murudensis belongs to what has been called the "Hamata group", which also includes four other closely related species from Borneo and Sulawesi: N. glabrata , N. hamata , N. muluensis , and N. tentaculata . [23] More recently, N. nigra has joined this group of related taxa. [24]

It is often described as resembling a giant N. tentaculata [3] [4] and it is undoubtedly closely related to this species. Nepenthes murudensis differs in lacking filiform hairs on the upper surface of the lid, being more robust in all respects, and having a dense indumentum on inflorescences and some vegetative parts. [2] [4] [25] However, a number of populations of N. tentaculata from northern Sarawak produce pitchers exceeding 20 cm in height and these may be very similar in appearance to N. murudensis. [4]

An upper pitcher of N. tentaculata from Mount Murud, showing highly developed wings Murud N. tentaculata.jpg
An upper pitcher of N. tentaculata from Mount Murud, showing highly developed wings

Nepenthes murudensis also differs in that its aerial pitchers lack wings. Although N. tentaculata is variable in this respect, plants from Mount Murud usually produce upper pitchers with wings. [26]

Nepenthes murudensis can be distinguished from its other suspected parent species, N. reinwardtiana , on the basis of lacking "eye spots" on the inside surface of its pitchers and having distinctive leaf bases that completely clasp the stem. [3] In addition, the lower pitchers of N. murudensis have a pair of fringed wings, whereas those of N. reinwardtiana typically have ribs or, rarely, short wings without fringe elements. [4] [26]

Related Research Articles

<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 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 lowii</i> Species of pitcher plant from Borneo

Nepenthes lowii, or Low's pitcher-plant, is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Borneo. It is named after Hugh Low, who discovered it on Mount Kinabalu. This species is perhaps the most unusual in the genus, being characterised by its strongly constricted upper pitchers, which bear a greatly reduced peristome and a reflexed lid with numerous bristles on its lower surface.

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

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.

<i>Nepenthes macrovulgaris</i> Tropical pitcher plant endemic to Borneo

Nepenthes macrovulgaris, or the serpentine pitcher-plant, is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Borneo. It is a lowland plant that typically grows at altitudes ranging from 300 to 1200 m in sub-montane forest clearings and mossy forest. Its range is restricted to ultramafic habitats, including Mount Kinabalu, Mount Tambuyukon, the Danum Valley, the Tawai Range, the Meliau Range and Mount Silam, all in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Pitchers grow to around 25 cm high and range in colour from green to brown, with the speckled form being the most common.

<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 northiana</i> Species of pitcher plant from Borneo

Nepenthes northiana, or Miss North's pitcher-plant, is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Borneo, where it grows at elevations ranging from 0 to 500 m above sea level. The specific epithet northiana honours the English botanic illustrator Marianne North, who first depicted the species. Nepenthes northiana is one of the most famous Nepenthes, and its discovery in the latter half of the 19th century contributed to Sarawak's reputation as a land of spectacular exotic plants.

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

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 West Kalimantan, Indonesia. It has an elevational distribution between approximately 600 and 800 m.

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

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. The specific epithet derives from the Latin word pilosus, meaning "hairy".

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

Nepenthes hurrelliana is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Borneo, where it has been recorded from northern Sarawak, southwestern Sabah, and Brunei. It is of putative hybrid origin; its two original parent species are thought to be N. fusca and N. veitchii. A thick indumentum of rusty-brown hairs covers the entire plant, a characteristic presumably inherited from the latter.

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

Nepenthes hispida is a tropical pitcher plant species native to Borneo. It grows at elevations of 100 to 800 m in kerangas forest. It is known with certainty only from Lambir Hills National Park and surrounding areas.

<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 mapuluensis</i> Tropical pitcher plant endemic to Borneo

Nepenthes mapuluensis, the Mapulu pitcher-plant, is a species of tropical pitcher plant native to East Kalimantan, Borneo. It is known only from a restricted geographical range and is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

<i>Nepenthes muluensis</i> Tropical pitcher plant endemic to Borneo

Nepenthes muluensis, or the Mulu pitcher-plant, is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Borneo. It grows in highland habitats at elevations of 1700 to 2400 m above sea level.

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

Nepenthes vogelii is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Borneo. It is thought to be most closely related to N. fusca.

<i>Nepenthes of Borneo</i>

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 (Borneo), and reprinted in 2006. Clarke describes it as "primarily an ecological monograph".

<i>Pitcher-Plants of Borneo</i>

Pitcher-Plants of Borneo is a monograph by Anthea Phillipps and Anthony Lamb on the tropical pitcher plants of Borneo. It was first published in 1996 by Natural History Publications (Borneo), in association with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Malaysian Nature Society. An updated and much expanded second edition was published in 2008 as Pitcher Plants of Borneo, with Ch'ien Lee as co-author.

<i>Nepenthes of Mount Kinabalu</i>

Nepenthes of Mount Kinabalu is a monograph by Shigeo Kurata on the tropical pitcher plants of Mount Kinabalu and the surrounding area of Kinabalu National Park in Sabah, Borneo. It was published in 1976 by Sabah National Parks Trustees as the second booklet of the Sabah National Parks series. The monograph is Kurata's most important work on Nepenthes and significantly contributed to popular interest in these plants. It is noted for its high quality colour photographs of plants in habitat. In the book's preface, Kurata writes:

While Nepenthes were often enumerated as an important component of the flora of this mountain, a book on this genus—relating exclusively to Kinabalu had never been published to this date. With such a situation and the interest shown by visitors to the Kinabalu National Park in the genus, Mr. D.V. Jenkins, Assistant Director, Sabah National Parks was prompted to publish a guide book on the species found within the park and I was delighted to be asked to write the text.

References

  1. 1 2 Clarke, C.M. (2018). "Nepenthes murudensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T39681A143962509. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T39681A143962509.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Jebb, M.H.P. & M.R. Cheek 1997. A skeletal revision of Nepenthes (Nepenthaceae). Blumea42(1): 1–106.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Phillipps, A. & A. Lamb 1996. Pitcher-Plants of Borneo . Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Clarke, C.M. 1997. Nepenthes of Borneo . Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu.
  5. 1 2 Phillipps, A. & A. Lamb 1988. Pitcher-plants of East Malaysia and Brunei. Nature Malaysiana13(4): 8–27.
  6. ↑ Phillipps, A., A. Lamb & C.C. Lee 2008. Pitcher Plants of Borneo . Second Edition. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu.
  7. ↑ Jebb, M. 1994. NEPENTHES revision for Flora Malesiana. Carnivorous Plant Mailing List, September 9, 1994.
  8. 1 2 Wistuba, A. 1996. Re: nepenthes of Borneo. Carnivorous Plant Mailing List, May 29, 1996.
  9. 1 2 3 Lee, C.C. 1996. N. sp. "murudiensis". Carnivorous Plant Mailing List, May 29, 1996.
  10. ↑ Schlauer, J. 1996. Re: N.*murudensis auct., nom.nud. (s.typo, s.descr., ined.). Carnivorous Plant Mailing List, May 30, 1996.
  11. ↑ Lee, C.C. 1996. Re: N. * murudensis. Carnivorous Plant Mailing List, May 31, 1996.
  12. 1 2 Schlauer, J. N.d. Nepenthes murudensis. Carnivorous Plant Database.
  13. 1 2 Beaman, J.H. 1999. "Preliminary enumeration of the summit flora, Mount Murud, Kelabit Highlands, Sarawak" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-19. (99.4  KiB)ASEAN Review of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation: 1–23.
  14. 1 2 De Witte, J. 1996. "Nepenthes of Gunung Murud" (PDF). (567  KiB) Carnivorous Plant Newsletter 25(2): 41–45.
  15. ↑ Bauer, U., C.J. Clemente, T. Renner & W. Federle 2012. Form follows function: morphological diversification and alternative trapping strategies in carnivorous Nepenthes pitcher plants. Journal of Evolutionary Biology25(1): 90–102. doi : 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2011.02406.x
  16. ↑ Bourke, G. 2010. "The climbing pitcher plants of the Kelabit highlands" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-04-09. Retrieved 2012-10-21.Captive Exotics Newsletter1(1): 4–7.
  17. 1 2 3 McPherson, S.R. 2009. Pitcher Plants of the Old World . 2 volumes. Redfern Natural History Productions, Poole.
  18. ↑ De Witte, J. 1996. murud and no end. Carnivorous Plant Mailing List, May 31, 1996.
  19. ↑ Das, I. 2008. "Two new species of Pelophryne (Anura: Bufoidae) from Gunung Murud, Sarawak (Northwestern Borneo)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2009-02-08.The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology56(2): 435–443.
  20. ↑ Stace, C. A. 1980. Plant Taxonomy and Biosystematics. Arnold, London.
  21. ↑ Cheek, M.R., M.H.P. Jebb, C.C. Lee, A. Lamb & A. Phillipps 2003. Nepenthes hurrelliana (Nepenthaceae), a new species of pitcher plant from Borneo. Sabah Parks Nature Journal6: 117-124.
  22. ↑ Gronemeyer, T., A. Wistuba, V. Heinrich, S. McPherson, F. Mey & A. Amoroso 2010. Nepenthes hamiguitanensis (Nepenthaceae), a new pitcher plant species from Mindanao Island, Philippines. In: S.R. McPherson Carnivorous Plants and their Habitats. Volume 2. Redfern Natural History Productions, Poole. pp. 1296–1305.
  23. ↑ Meimberg, H. & G. Heubl 2006. Introduction of a nuclear marker for phylogenetic analysis of Nepenthaceae. Plant Biology8(6): 831–840. doi : 10.1055/s-2006-924676
  24. ↑ Nerz, J., A. Wistuba, C.C. Lee, G. Bourke, U. Zimmermann & S. McPherson 2011. Nepenthes nigra, a new pitcher plant from Central Sulawesi. In: McPherson, S.R. New Nepenthes: Volume One . Redfern Natural History Productions, Poole. pp. 468–491.
  25. ↑ Steiner, H. 2002. Borneo: Its Mountains and Lowlands with their Pitcher Plants . Toihaan Publishing Company, Kota Kinabalu.
  26. 1 2 Clarke, C.M. & C.C. Lee 2004. Pitcher Plants of Sarawak . Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu.

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