Nepenthes palawanensis

Nepenthes palawanensis is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Sultan Peak on the island of Palawan in the Philippines, where it grows at elevations of 1100–1236 m above sea level.[2] It was discovered in February 2010 by Jehson Cervancia and Stewart McPherson.[3]

Nepenthes palawanensis
A lower pitcher of N. palawanensis photographed by Stewart McPherson
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Nepenthaceae
Genus: Nepenthes
Species:
N. palawanensis
Binomial name
Nepenthes palawanensis
S.McPherson, Cervancia, Chi.C.Lee, Jaunzems, Mey & A.S.Rob. (2010)[2]

The species appears to be most closely related to N. attenboroughii, which grows on nearby Mount Victoria.[3][4] Nepenthes palawanensis can be distinguished from N. attenboroughii by its pitchers, which are even larger, sometimes exceeding 35 cm in height,[5] and with a capacity of 1.5–2 litres of water.[6] (The largest pitchers remain those of N. rajah.)[6] Another difference from N. attenboroughii is that the pitchers of N. palawanensis are lined with orange to red hairs.[6]

Nepenthes palawanensis was featured as number 4 on Chris Packham's "top ten discoveries of extraordinary and weird new species from the last decade" on the BBC programme Decade of Discovery, first broadcast on December 14, 2010.[7][8]

The discovery of N. attenboroughii, by a team that included McPherson, helped to obtain local support for the protection of the Mount Victoria range; following the discovery of N. palawanensis, it was hoped that similar support for the Sultan range might result.[6] To date, neither mountain has been afforded protected status.[9]

Nepenthes palawanensis forms natural hybrids with a taxon resembling N. philippinensis.[10]

References
  1. Clarke, C.M.; Lee, C. (2014). "Nepenthes palawanensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T48995172A49009815. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T48995172A49009815.en.
  2. McPherson, S., J. Cervancia, C. Lee, M. Jaunzems, A. Fleischmann, F. Mey, E. Gironella & A. Robinson 2010. Nepenthes palawanensis (Nepenthaceae), a new pitcher plant species from Sultan Peak, Palawan Island, Philippines. In: S.R. McPherson Carnivorous Plants and their Habitats. Volume 2. Redfern Natural History Productions, Poole. pp. 1332–1339.
  3. New Species - Nepenthes palawanensis Archived 2011-07-15 at the Wayback Machine. Redfern Natural History Productions Ltd.
  4. McPherson, S. 2010. New giant Nepenthes species - Nepenthes palawanensis. Carnivorous Plants UK, February 28, 2010.
  5. McPherson, S. 2010. Nepenthes palawanensis: another new species of giant pitcher plant from the Philippines. Carnivorous Plant Newsletter 39(3): 89–90.
  6. [Anonymous] 2010. Pitcher this: a new Nepenthes. The Plantsman (New Series) 9(2): 73.
  7. Decade of Discovery. BBC iPlayer. [N. palawanensis segment runs from approximately 35:07 to 36:43]
  8. The decade's top ten new species. BBC Earth News, December 12, 2010.
  9. The Protected Areas of Palawan. Palawan Council for Sustainable Development.
  10. McPherson, S.R. & V.B. Amoroso 2011. Field Guide to the Pitcher Plants of the Philippines. Redfern Natural History Productions, Poole.
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