N. Ramispina, N. Sanguinea & N. Macfarlanei

[wijaya]

I just have this trip to the highland habitat of these three magnificient nepenthes of Malaysia, seeing is beliving, enjoy.

The habitat is up on the mountain region where the altitude is around 1700 asl, the temperature is around 20 – 25 degree Celcius on daytime, night time should have cooler temperature. Reaching there around 10:30 am local time was sunny but later on suddenly heavy rain at around 12 noon.

First location was a bit disturbed with hills being cut to make out way/ small roads, the neps growing here from the steep hill sides to the foot hill and some found scattered growing under bushes. The whole area is exposed to direct sun neps found is N. Ramispina and few hybrids, growing surface is sandy and rocky and quite dry, will only get water when raining. Found young plants only with hybrids I supposed that seeds coming from the mossy forest on top of the hill probably flew down by the wind or washed down when raining.





Some N. Ramispina found:







Then, some hybrids can be seen growing in this area:

[wijaya]

Further down the location where only small trail is opened can started to see some N. Sanguinea and a little bit of Macfarlanei, neps in this area are a bit mature, with woody vining and climbing on tree, of this location three of the species can be found growing together side by side and neps in this area is growing in a bit shady surrounding as tall grasses, fern, shrubs and trees covering the area, some blooming and seeds pods in this area.



































Again, some hybrids found:

[wijaya]

As we walked further down and very much closer to the mossy forest:





N. Macfarlanei can be seen now:


























See coloration on newly open pitcher compare with older one:








very hard upper pitcher:










Good buddy hanging out on the same tree






Some hybrids found:

[wijaya]

Then we started to climb into the mossy forest when it started raining heavily so not a lot of picture can be taken here, found mostly mature plants vining up the tree with lots of seedlings found growing on top of moss, some even sitting on tree trunks, all the three species and hybrids grow together side by side without border. The mossy forest is still very well preserved, not much disturbance inside the forest, moss can be seen growing on the whole forest floor, and in here can see a big mature plant of Macfarlanei with big pitchers. I assumed the forest area is cooler and more wet than the hill on the first location.





See how the mist covering the area


Some Rami's:






Some Mac's - huge one:






more Rami's:




Not sure if any hybrids found in this forest, but surely will have some hybrids, probably due to the heavy rain so that we can't really explore the area for some hybrid's evidence.

[wijaya]

Across the first location after the heavy rain stop, I will call this one just with second location, where huge pitcher of N. Sanguinea is growing side by side with N. Ramispina, the area in on the steep hill, neps found growing exposed directly to the sun and the lower part of the hill is shadier with lots of ferns and bushes, as this area was being disturbed to open up road and some projects, but then left abandon, so the batch of N. Sanguinea must have developed into somewhat mature plants overtime.













Really monstrous lower:


See the size of the lid:




What uppers of this one?














Wonderful experience to see how neps grow in the wild, some small plants got pitchers bigger than the plant itself. Thanks to Fauzi who show me around the habitat and also thanks to Michael who gave me some pointers on what to look for at habitat.

Next trip is Sidikalang on my own hometown. Coming soon….!

Hope you all enjoy the picture, do give comments so that I can improve myself on my next trip. Thanks.

Ed

[sockhom]

Terrific Ed .

One of the best ramispina report I have seen. You made my day.


François.

[rainforest]

Ed,
Your report on these species excellent! Your photos and observations makes me feel like I was there. To see as you have and to hold a pitcher (with both hands) gives us the same excitement as you experienced that day.
From what I gather, the habitat must be very wet all the time. Selaginella, lycopodium, mosses and the like, tells me that this place has a lot of water available. And while grass roots may choke out other plants, nepenthes can survive so long as abundant water is available and a place for them to grow. Plus the added bonus of their capture of insect prey for additional nitrogen and side benefits.
All the plants appeared healthy, especially those with larger pitcher to leaf ratios.

I have a few questions. First off, at what elevation do these nepenthes first appear? Curious how low they are found naturally and if disturbance is an advantage or disadvantage for them? Some species colonizes a new disturbed exposed site while others decline due to competition from other plant species.

This was like a nepenthes holiday! Great shots of plants, the scenery and great reporting.

Michael

[wijaya]

@francois - glad u like the report, thanks for the compliment

Michael - The elevation are around 1700 asl, as the area had nice asphalt road for car to go up to the mountain, from where we parked already very closed to the first sighting of N. Ramispina.

As for disturbance, I don't know if this an advantage or disadvantage for the neps, as I do believe without disturbance should be better and will have much more plants growing densely I supposed.

Ed

[vraev]

Just excellent! Fabulous to see some nice pics of these three species. Once again the ramispina proves itself to be among the most beautiful highland species that is a must have in every collection. I can't wait for the leaves of mine to get more redder.