Nepenthes
Content
Distribution
Asia-Tropical: Borneo present; Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia present, Singapore present); Sumatera (Sumatera present)
Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo.
Taxonomy
3. Nepenthes x hookeriana Lindl. in the Gardeners’ Chronicle is merely a name in a list of species, referring to the name in Low’s book. Hugh Low, however, accidentally, or otherwise, had described what we know as N. rafflesiana as Nepenthes x hookeriana and vice versa in his book Sarawak, its Inhabitants and Productions (1848). Masters was the first author to note this in the , where he gives the first full description and illustration of Nepenthes x hookeriana. However the species still effectively remained dubious taxonomically (even though its facies were well understood in horticultural circles), until Macfarlane’s revision. Macfarlane (op. cit. 1908) cites several specimens, among them a Low collection from Sarawak, which would seem the most appropriate choice for a lectotype, but we have not been able to locate this specimen. Nepenthes loddigesii is included on the authority of Macfarlane, but no type material has been located.
2. Along with another naturally occurring hybrid, Nepenthes x trichocarpa, this taxon is widespread, albeit scarce. The numbers of plants present in a given population are often small and they tend to be very localised. It is possible that hybrids can only survive in marginal or disturbed habitats, since the ecologies of the two parental species is not identical. Other hybrids such as Nepenthes x kinabaluensis and Nepenthes x trusmadiensis are highly restricted in their distribution, and their identification is not problematic on a Malesian scale.
1 Nepenthes hookeriana is a naturally occurring hybrid between N. ampullaria and N. rafflesiana (). In morphology it is intermediate between the parental species. The leaf blade exhibits the typical venation of N. ampullaria, with the longitudinal nerves in the outer 1/2 of the blade only, and a shortly petiolate base; the lower pitchers are urceolate with broad pitcher wings and a broad, rounded peristome, but this is not developed into the long apical neck of N. rafflesiana; the lid is oblong to oblong-ovate, with a blunt or notched apex, and two prominent lateral veins, the lid glands are distributed throughout, unlike those of N. rafflesiana, which are densest near the margins and absent from the centre.
Citation
Danser 1928: p. 309. – In: Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg: f. 9
Boerl. 1900 – In: Handl.: 54
Mast. 1881: Gard. Chron: 812: f. 157
Macfarl. 1908 – In: Engl., Pflanzenr. 4: 34
Phillipps & A.L. Lamb 1996: Pitcher Plants of Borneo: 94: f. 7
Jebb & Cheek 1997 – In: Blumea: 50
Burb. 1904 – In: Flora & Sylva: 111
Clarke 1997: Nepenthes of Borneo: 153: f. 106
G. Nicholson 1886 – In: Ill. Dict. Gard.: 436
Beck 1895 – In: Wiener Ill. Gart.-Zeitung: 227
Shivas 1984: Pitcher Plants of Peninsula Malaysia & Singapore: 33
Lindl. 1892: Gard. Chron: 561: ic. 557