Rediscovered Species - Heliamphora neblinae
Species:
Heliamphora neblinae
Locality:
Venezuela
Date discovered:
November 2004
Discovery Details
Heliamphora neblinae was described in 1978, soon after being discovered in the north of Mount Neblina - a remote mountain complex on the border of Venezuela and Brazil. The plant was not seen again during the 20th century. Much confusion developed among horticulturalists as practically all plants grown in cultivation under the name of H. neblinae originated from Pico de Neblina (Pico Phelps) in the south of the Neblina Massif, far from the type locality. The Heliamphora populations from the southern part of the Neblina Range, including Pico de Neblina, differ considerably from the type variety of H. neblinae and are most probably H. tatei or hybrids between H. tatei and H. hispida.
In November 2004, Stewart McPherson joined Brazilian sundew expert Fernando Rivadavia and Gert Highbattle in a search to rediscover the little-known plant. After many weeks of planning, the plant was rediscovered at the type locality and photographed for the first time. Heliamphora neblinae proved to be distinct from all other marsh pitcher plants - forming a long, decumbant stem clothed with dead foliage, bearing massive flowers, leaves lived with dense, woolly, white hairs, and broad (almost flat) nectar spoons.
Further information and several photos of Heliamphora feature in Pitcher Plants of the Americas and Lost Worlds of the Guiana Highlands by Stewart McPherson. Both volumes are available online for immediate dispatch. Please see Redfern book catalogue (left) for more details or to place an order.
Please view our stock image and stock video libraries (links to the left) for photographs and video clips of this exciting new plant!