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 1,100–1,236 m (3,609–4,055 ft) 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 | |
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 (0.33–0.44 imp gal; 0.40–0.53 US gal) 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
edit- ^ 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. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b New Species - Nepenthes palawanensis Archived 2011-07-15 at the Wayback Machine. Redfern Natural History Productions Ltd.
- ^ McPherson, S. 2010. New giant Nepenthes species - Nepenthes palawanensis. Carnivorous Plants UK, February 28, 2010.
- ^ McPherson, S. 2010. Nepenthes palawanensis: another new species of giant pitcher plant from the Philippines. Carnivorous Plant Newsletter 39(3): 89–90.
- ^ a b c d [Anonymous] 2010. Pitcher this: a new Nepenthes. The Plantsman (New Series) 9(2): 73.
- ^ Decade of Discovery. BBC iPlayer. [N. palawanensis segment runs from approximately 35:07 to 36:43]
- ^ The decade's top ten new species. BBC Earth News, December 12, 2010.
- ^ The Protected Areas of Palawan. Palawan Council for Sustainable Development.
- ^ McPherson, S.R. & V.B. Amoroso 2011. Field Guide to the Pitcher Plants of the Philippines. Redfern Natural History Productions, Poole.
- Co, L. & W. Suarez 2012. Nepenthaceae. Co's Digital Flora of the Philippines.
- Mara Guerini (June 2011). "2010: new species of Carnivorous Plants" (PDF). AIPC Magazine. 2 (22). Italian Carnivorous Plants Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 March 2012.
- McPherson, S., G. Bourke, J. Cervancia, M. Jaunzems, E. Gironella, A. Robinson & A. Fleischmann 2011. Nepenthes leonardoi (Nepenthaceae), a new pitcher plant species from Palawan, Philippines. Carniflora Australis 8(1): 4–19.
- Exploration of Mount Anipahan and Mount Kiamo. [video] Redfern Natural History Productions.
- Lecture on Plant Hunting – Royal Horticultural Society 6 May 2014. [video] Redfern Natural History Productions.