Rediscovered Species - Nepenthes gracillima
Species:
Nepenthes gracillima
Locality:
Malaysia
Date discovered:
March 2008
Discovery Details
During his climb, Ridley discovered two species of pitcher plants, one of which he named Nepenthes gracillima in 1908 for it produces long, slender pitchers that are predominantly black mottled with green blotches. The other plant Ridley named Nepenthes alba in 1924 for it produces smaller, predominantly white pitchers. During the past century, the classification of both plants has been clouded with errors and confusion. Various botanists have considered the two plants the same species, others mistakenly identified either or both under various incorrect names, including N. ramispina, N. bongso and N. singalana.
In 2008, Stewart McPherson ascended Mount Tahan, and on the slopes of that mountain, observed populations of two distinct types of Nepenthes that match Ridley’s original descriptions of N. gracillima and N. alba. Nepenthes gracillima occurs amidst upper montane scrub on humid ridge tops between 1,600–1,700 m altitude. Nepenthes gracillima is not widespread or populous on Mount Tahan, and the populations observed consisted of just a few dozen plants (but these are consistent and uniform). Nepenthes gracillima readily forms a branched stem up to 3 m long, and scrambles and climbs amidst surrounding vegetation, particularly in areas where it may grow in strong or direct sunlight. It produces spectacular upper pitchers that are up to 26 cm long and 5 cm wide (many times larger than the typical size of the upper pitchers of N. alba). The upper traps are predominantly black, mottled with variable bright green blotches (which are elongated towards the base of the trap).
Further information and several photos of Nepenthes gracillima feature in Redfern's recent titles Pitcher Plants of the Old World Vol. 1 and Pitcher Plants of the Old World Vol. 2 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.