Nepenthes × pyriformis

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Nepenthes × pyriformis

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Nepenthaceae
Genus:	Nepenthes
Species:	N. × pyriformis

Binomial name

Nepenthes × pyriformis
Sh.Kurata (2001)

Synonyms

Nepenthes dubia
auct. non Danser: Jebb & Cheek (1997)
[=N. dubia/N. tenuis/N. × pyriformis]
Nepenthes dubia
auct. non Danser: Sh.Kurata (1973)

Nepenthes × pyriformis (pronounced /nəˈpɛnθiːz ˌpɪrɨˈfɔrmɨs/ or /ˌpaɪrɨ-/, from Latin: pyrus = pear, -forma = shaped) is a natural hybrid involving N. inermis and N. talangensis. It is known only from Mount Talang in Sumatra, to which N. talangensis is endemic. N. talangensis was only described as a distinct species in 1994.^[1] Prior to this it was placed within N. bongso and some of the older literature identifies this hybrid as N. bongso × N. inermis.^[2]

N. inermis × N. talangensis has been the subject of taxonomic confusion in the past. In an article published in 1973 on the Nepenthes of Borneo, Singapore, and Sumatra, botanist Shigeo Kurata incorrectly identified specimens of this hybrid as belonging to N. dubia.^[3]^[4]

In 1997, Matthew Jebb and Martin Cheek published their monograph "A Skeletal Revision of Nepenthes (Nepenthaceae)", in which they referred to N. dubia plant material from Mount Talang (Kurata s.n. SING).^[5] Charles Clarke later identified Kurata s.n. as representing N. inermis × N. talangensis.

The natural hybrid is similar to N. dubia, but can be distinguished on the basis of several stable characters. The hybrid has a wider pitcher lid that is never relfexed beyond 90 degrees and the pitcher cup is not appressed in the lower parts as in N. dubia. In addition, the mouth of N. inermis × N. talangensis is raised towards the back as opposed to being horizontal.^[4]

In 2001, Kurata described this hybrid as a new species, N. pyriformis.^[6] Clarke rejected this interpretation in his monograph Nepenthes of Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia, published the same year. Clarke found that the type specimen of N. pyriformis, Kurata & Mikil 4230 NDC, matches the appearance of N. inermis × N. talangensis "in most respects".^[4]

[edit] References

^ Nerz, J. & A. Wistuba 1994. Five new taxa of Nepenthes (Nepenthaceae) from North and West Sumatra. Carnivorous Plant Newsletter 23(4): 101–114.
^ Hopkins, M., R. Maulder & B.[R.] Salmon 1990. A real nice trip to Southeast Asia.PDF (1.72 MiB) Carnivorous Plant Newsletter 19(1–2): 19–28.
^ Kurata, S. 1973. Nepenthes from Borneo, Singapore and Sumatra. Gardens' Bulletin Singapore 26(2): 227–232.
^ ^a ^b ^c Clarke, C.M. 2001. Nepenthes of Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu.
^ Jebb, M.H.P. & M.R. Cheek 1997. A Skeletal Revision of Nepenthes (Nepenthaceae). Blumea 42(1): 1–106.
^ Kurata, S. 2001. Two new species of Nepenthes from Sumatra (Indonesia) and Mindanao (Philippines). Journal of the Insectivorous Plant Society (Japan) 52(2): 30–34.