Nepenthes alata
Content
Description
Terrestrial climber to 4 m tall.
Leaves coriaceous to chartaceous, petiolate or sessile, blade narrowly elliptic or oblanceolate-spathulate;
Inflorescence greenish yellow.
Inflorescence thickly, rarely sparsely covered in appressed coppery ± unbranched hairs up to 0.5 mm long, sometimes persisting on young fruit valves, often mixed with small white stellate hairs c. 0.2 mm diam., and long white simple hairs.
Fruits with valves 18-28 by 2-3 mm.
Seeds filiform, tuberculate at centre, 10-14 mm by 0.3 mm.
Distribution
Asia-Tropical: Philippines (Philippines present), Luzon to Mindanao present
Philippines: Luzon to Mindanao.
Taxonomy
2. In 1997 we restored the Sumatran N. eustachya, which Danser reduced to N. alata in his revision (1928). The two species differ in a number of characters: N. alata has a lanceolate-ovate leaf blade, with an acute or attenuate apex (unlike the obtuse to sub-peltate tip of N. eustachya), usually only 2 longitudinal veins (vs. 2 or 3), with sinuous pennate nerves, and the petiole is broadly winged compared to that of N. eustachya; the pitchers are very similar in the two, but those of N. eustachya have a more angular, woody base. In contrast to N. alata, N. eustachya has a spur which is usually branched or fasciculate, the partial peduncles are somewhat shorter, and the whole plant is more or less glabrous throughout.
1 Nepenthes alata is somewhat polymorphic, and is by far the most commonly collected species in the Philippines. It is one of only two species in Luzon (the other is N. ventricosa). The ridge on the lower surface of the lid may be developed into a prominent, even slightly hooked appendage. This lid appendage, together with the spike-like axillary buds, usually petiolate leaf bases and the sinuous pennate nerves suggest a relationship with the N. maxima (Regiae) group. Specimens from Luzon tend to have the smallest, hairiest pitchers, while those from Mindanao have more strikingly ventricose bases to their pitcher and relatively narrow necks.
3. In 1999 we restored N. philippinensis, a species restricted to ultramafic substrates on Palawan and immediately distinguished from N. alata by the lack of an appendage on the lower lid, and the absence of nectar glands from the midline of the lid. Nepenthes copelandii may also deserve restoration, but further study is first needed. It seems distinct from N. alata on the basis of its 2-flowered partial peduncles, hairy stem and sparse lid glands. It appears restricted to non-ultramafic areas of Mindanao and adjoining islands.