Nepenthes ampullaria - Semenggoh National Park

[kinabalu]

Hello

Here are some ampullaria from a trip i've done in Borneo, close to Kuching a few years ago.

Kina

[rainforest]

Kina,
Let me ask you this question. Does the color of the pitchers make you see them better or are they more camouflaged among the debris. There is much debate whether these ground pitchers are more for collecting random falling matter from the canopy above. Of course the red colored ones must stand out dramatically, but if for catching just inanimate objects, then why the need for color?
Have you looked into the pitcher contents of ampullarias? I would say that ampullarias are opportunistic plants and if an insect drowns and dies, or if a berry falls in or even if rubbish collects, this plant will take what comes.
The other idea is that these plants make use of the infauna secretions, waste products and consumption of what remains after another scavenger's meal. N. ampullaria (and N. gracilis) is the only species that exhibit this ground pitcher development.

What is your take for the reason for these features.

Thank you for sharing these excellent shots of the varieties of ampullarias.

M

[kinabalu]

Hello Rainforest

I heard and read many thing about this plant. You know i'm not scientist, i'm just an amateur and collector but ampullaria is, i think, one of the nepenthes where you can find so many different colors. I think the pitcher's color depend of the ground where grow the plants. Dead and different sheets from trees and a place to another could modify the colors of pitchers with time. It's maybe an insane idea that i say here. About catching prey, if a plant need pitchers, it 's to nourish itself quite simply. It's my opinion of course. I've seen most of time in those ampullarias, ants and rare butterfly, otherwise, some sheets.
You can either found red carpet of ampullaria under sheets than green one for example. In both case, there are no more insects in a kind than the other. It's what i could say.

Best regards

Kina

[rainforest]

So are the colored pitchers more successful than green ones? I was also told that finding a red ampullaria in some locales is rare, yet other places, speckled or red lipped varieties are abundant.
I believe someone had once said that N. ampullarias can also vary somewhat in their colors. They showed photos of a speckled (more green) pitchers stemming from a very red clone, or vice-verse. Do you recall this conversation?

The ampullaria with its carpet pitchers has got to be one of the most bizarre of pitcher forms. The idea of a leafless pitcher just budding out of a peduncle from the root zone for the sole purpose to produce these carper pitchers has got to be one of the most unique features of this species.

Michael

[kinabalu]

Hello Rainforest and sorry for my late reply
After what i've seen, i think whether coloured or green ampullaria's pitchers, there's not so much insects. Just a few.
If insects fall in those ground pitchers, it's more by accident i think.

They showed photos of a speckled (more green) pitchers stemming from a very red clone, or vice-verse. Do you recall this conversation?
I don't remember this conversation, have you got a link ?

regards,

Kina.