N. aristolochioides
Apr 15, 2008 0:33:19 GMT -10
Post by phissionkorps on Apr 15, 2008 0:33:19 GMT -10
from Wikipedia:
"N. aristolochioides is a climbing plant. The stem grows to 8 m in length and 5 mm in diameter.[2] Internodes are cylindrical to obtusely angular in cross section and up to 15 cm long.[3]
Leaves are coriaceous and sessile. The lamina is spathulate-lanceolate in form and up to 15 cm long and 3 cm wide. It has an acute apex and is gradually attenuate towards the base. Two to five[2] longitudinal veins are present on either side of the midrib. Pinnate veins are indistinct. Tendrils reach 15 cm in length.[3]
Rosette and lower pitchers are only produced on small rosettes before the plant begins to climb or on offshoots from the climbing stem. They are infundibular in the lower two-thirds and globose above. They reach 7 cm in height and 3 cm in width. The pitcher mouth is round and oblique to almost vertical. A pair of fringed wings (≤4 mm long) runs down the front of the pitcher. The peristome is broad, incurved, and up to 5 mm wide. Its inner margin is lined with small teeth that are curled at their apex. The glandular region covers almost the entire inner surface of the pitcher. Digestive glands are overarched, 0.2 to 0.3 mm in diameter, and occur at a density of 200 to 500 per square centimetre.[2] The pitcher lid or operculum is orbicular-cordate, up to 1.5 cm wide,[2] and bears no appendages. It is usually reflexed away from the mouth at an angle of around 90 degrees. A branched or unbranched spur (≤7 mm long) is inserted at the base of the lid.[3][2]
Upper pitchers are infundibular in the lower half and utriculate above. They are larger than terrestrial pitchers, reaching 15 cm in height and 8 cm in width, and bear ribs in place of wings. The pitcher mouth is positioned almost vertically. The peristome (≤6 mm wide)[2] is expanded and incurved, bearing indistinct teeth. The pitcher lid is ovate and often held horizontally. The glandular region covers the lower two-thirds of the pitcher cup's inner surface. Digestive glands are slightly overarched, 0.2 to 0.4 mm in diameter, and occur at a density of 200 to 250 per square centimetre.[2] In most other respects, upper pitchers are similar to their terrestrial counterparts.[3]
N. aristolochioides has a racemose inflorescence. Both the peduncle and rachis may be up to 15 cm long, although the latter is usually shorter in female plants. Pedicels are simple-bracteolate, one-flowered, and up to 12 mm long.[2] Sepals are ovate and up to 4 mm long.[3] Fruits are up to 20 mm long and 4 mm wide, and bear lanceolate valves. Seeds are filiform.[2]
Most parts of the plant are glabrous. The axils, midribs and parts of the pitchers may bear a sparse indumentum of short, simple white hairs.[3]
The stem and lamina are light green. Pitchers are white to reddish with numerous red-brown speckles. The peristome is usually dark red. The undersurface of the lid is red throughout, while the upper surface is speckled like the rest of the pitcher. Herbarium specimens are brown to dark brown, the preserved pitchers having dark spots.[2]
Little variation has been observed within natural populations of N. aristolochioides. As such, no forms or varieties have been described.[3]
"N. aristolochioides is a climbing plant. The stem grows to 8 m in length and 5 mm in diameter.[2] Internodes are cylindrical to obtusely angular in cross section and up to 15 cm long.[3]
Leaves are coriaceous and sessile. The lamina is spathulate-lanceolate in form and up to 15 cm long and 3 cm wide. It has an acute apex and is gradually attenuate towards the base. Two to five[2] longitudinal veins are present on either side of the midrib. Pinnate veins are indistinct. Tendrils reach 15 cm in length.[3]
Rosette and lower pitchers are only produced on small rosettes before the plant begins to climb or on offshoots from the climbing stem. They are infundibular in the lower two-thirds and globose above. They reach 7 cm in height and 3 cm in width. The pitcher mouth is round and oblique to almost vertical. A pair of fringed wings (≤4 mm long) runs down the front of the pitcher. The peristome is broad, incurved, and up to 5 mm wide. Its inner margin is lined with small teeth that are curled at their apex. The glandular region covers almost the entire inner surface of the pitcher. Digestive glands are overarched, 0.2 to 0.3 mm in diameter, and occur at a density of 200 to 500 per square centimetre.[2] The pitcher lid or operculum is orbicular-cordate, up to 1.5 cm wide,[2] and bears no appendages. It is usually reflexed away from the mouth at an angle of around 90 degrees. A branched or unbranched spur (≤7 mm long) is inserted at the base of the lid.[3][2]
Upper pitchers are infundibular in the lower half and utriculate above. They are larger than terrestrial pitchers, reaching 15 cm in height and 8 cm in width, and bear ribs in place of wings. The pitcher mouth is positioned almost vertically. The peristome (≤6 mm wide)[2] is expanded and incurved, bearing indistinct teeth. The pitcher lid is ovate and often held horizontally. The glandular region covers the lower two-thirds of the pitcher cup's inner surface. Digestive glands are slightly overarched, 0.2 to 0.4 mm in diameter, and occur at a density of 200 to 250 per square centimetre.[2] In most other respects, upper pitchers are similar to their terrestrial counterparts.[3]
N. aristolochioides has a racemose inflorescence. Both the peduncle and rachis may be up to 15 cm long, although the latter is usually shorter in female plants. Pedicels are simple-bracteolate, one-flowered, and up to 12 mm long.[2] Sepals are ovate and up to 4 mm long.[3] Fruits are up to 20 mm long and 4 mm wide, and bear lanceolate valves. Seeds are filiform.[2]
Most parts of the plant are glabrous. The axils, midribs and parts of the pitchers may bear a sparse indumentum of short, simple white hairs.[3]
The stem and lamina are light green. Pitchers are white to reddish with numerous red-brown speckles. The peristome is usually dark red. The undersurface of the lid is red throughout, while the upper surface is speckled like the rest of the pitcher. Herbarium specimens are brown to dark brown, the preserved pitchers having dark spots.[2]
Little variation has been observed within natural populations of N. aristolochioides. As such, no forms or varieties have been described.[3]