Nepenthes bellii
Content
Description
Terrestrial climber 0.3-2.5 m tall.
Leaves coriaceous, sessile, narrowly elliptic, 8-15 by 1-1.8 cm, apex acute, base barely attenuate, clasping the stem for 1/2-3/4 its circumference, slightly auriculate, obliquely attached, not or only slightly decurrent.
Fruit valves 17-20 mm long.
Seed unknown.
Distribution
Asia-Tropical: Philippines (Philippines present), Mindanao present, Surigao Province present
Philippines: Mindanao (Surigao Province).
Notes
1 Nepenthes bellii is unusual in the subglobular pitchers, with very densely fringed wings, the fringed elements c. 1 mm apart (cilia trifid) on tendrils up to twice as long as the blades. Not easily confused with any other species besides N. argentii, where the specific differences are listed (q.v.). The lower pitchers of N. tomoriana, only recently collected, also bear a remarkable resemblance to those of N. bellii. However, the affinities of N. bellii may be with the Insignes group (N. burkei, N. insignis, N. merrilliana, N. sibuyanensis, and N. ventricosa). Known only from the two type collections cited above.
2. Little ecological information is available on this species. However, the localities known appear to coincide roughly with ultramafic areas in Surigao.