New Species - Nepenthes chaniana
Species:
Nepenthes chaniana
Locality:
Borneo
Date discovered:
2006
Discovery Details
The plant which is now described as Nepenthes chaniana was previously thought to be Nepenthes pilosa, a species that was discovered in 1899 and not re-seen since. A 2006 expedition to the remote type locality of Nepenthes pilosa in Kalimantan, Borneo by Dr. Charles Clark and Stewart McPherson succeeded in re-finding the little known Nepenthes pilosa and conclusively demonstrated that it was distinct and as a result, Nepenthes chaniana was formally described and distinguished.
Nepenthes chaniana is a spectacular pitcher plant, which produces bright yellowish green, cylindrical pitchers up to 25 cm in length. All parts of this plant are lined heavily in conspicuous, white or orange, bristly hairs up to 15 mm in length. In some strains, the spectacular pitchers of Nepenthes chaniana may be mottled with irregular, bright red or purple blotches of varying size. Nepenthes chaniana is endemic to Borneo, and is known to occur in Sabah, Sarawak and Kalimantan. Natural hybrids involving this species are known to include Nepenthes lowii and Nepenthes veitchii.
The differences between Nepenthes chaniana and Nepenthes pilosa are profound. Nepenthes pilosa produces broad, stout pitchers that are lined with orangish-red hairs. The colouration of the pitchers is predominately dark red or purple and the shape and structure of the lamina also varies profoundly. Currently, Nepenthes pilosa is known to inhabit only the summit of Bukit Batu Lesung in Kalimantan although it seems likely that it may also be found on adjacent (but extremely inaccessible) upland areas nearby.
Nepenthes pilosa has not been re-observed since the expedition of Dr. Charles Clarke and Stewart McPherson and it is not currently in cultivation. All plants previously (and incorrectly) distributed and cultivated as Nepenthes pilosa should be renamed Nepenthes chaniana.
Detailed information and several photos of Nepenthes chaniana are presented in Redfern's new book titles Pitcher Plants of the Old World Volume One and Pitcher Plants of the Old World Volume Two. Please see Redfern book catalogue (left) for more details or to place an order.
Images of Nepenthes chaniana used here are kindly provided by Stephen Fretwell (used with permission).