N. micramphora, a new species from Philippines

[sockhom]

Hello,


I am happy to announce the forthcoming publication of a new species of Nepenthes.

Stewart McPherson allowed me to make public the announcement and he kindly provided some pictures.
Many thanks to him.

Nepenthes micramphora (Nepenthaceae), a new species of Nepenthes (L.) from southern Mindanao, Philippine

Volker Heinrich, Stewart R. McPherson, Thomas Gronemeyer and Victor B. Amoroso

published in Pitcherplants of the old world, 2009.
































François.

[jgriffin]

Nice!
Does the surrounding moss mean it's highland?

Cheers,

Joe

[rainforest]

It's interesting to see that so many of the "newer" species tend to be resembling something we already know.
I guess if we wanted to, we could break up N. ventricosa into as many species too! It's interesting how some have achieved species status while others (i.e. N. sp. Viking) does not.

M

[marka]

May 20, 2009 9:07:08 GMT -10 rainforest said:

It's interesting to see that so many of the "newer" species tend to be resembling something we already know.
I guess if we wanted to, we could break up N. ventricosa into as many species too! It's interesting how some have achieved species status while others (i.e. N. sp. Viking) does not.

M

I'm not even sure what denotes a species with nepenthes, maybe its all just a genetic whirlpool with extreme ends and some humans to put meaningless labels on it all, can anyone define what species means in this context?

[srduggins]

Species means someone cared enough to publish a description.

[Dave Evans]

May 20, 2009 9:07:08 GMT -10 rainforest said:

It's interesting to see that so many of the "newer" species tend to be resembling something we already know.

Well, this species is sort of like a composite of previously discovered species, but it is still very unique! The pitchers remind me of those on N. alba, while the stems and leaves remind me of N. dubia meets N. glabrata. Those species are on Sumatra and Sulawesi however! There isn't any other species which grows nearby in the Philippines that looks anything like it.

I guess if we wanted to, we could break up N. ventricosa into as many species too! It's interesting how some have achieved species status while others (i.e. N. sp. Viking) does not.

I hope not.

I'm pretty sure someone will get around to naming it. I just hope they use a name which references the part of Thailand it is from.

BTW, it is very interesting to note the type specimen of N. thorelii has pitchers which are very similar to those of N. 'Viking'. I hearby propose a "common law" cultivar name upon it. No standard needed, we all know what it looks like

[rainforest]

OK
N. alata v. micramphora then!

M