Nepenthes × trusmadiensis

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Nepenthes × trusmadiensis
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Nepenthaceae
Genus: Nepenthes
Species: N. × trusmadiensis
Binomial name
Nepenthes × trusmadiensis
Marabini (1983)
Distribution of N. × trusmadiensis.
Distribution of N. × trusmadiensis.

Nepenthes × trusmadiensis (pronounced /nəˈpɛnθiːz tɹʊsmɑːdiːɛnsɪs/, after Mount Trus Madi), or the Trus Madi Pitcher-Plant,[1] is a natural hybrid of two famous Bornean pitcher plant species: N. lowii and N. macrophylla. N. × trusmadiensis is restricted to Mount Trus Madi, where both of its parent species are sympatric.[2]

N. × trusmadiensis was discovered by Johannes Marabini and John Briggs in 1983. It was described the same year by Marabini.[3] Briggs wrote the following account of its discovery:[4][1]

We were about to leave the summit around 8.00 a.m. when Johannes Marabini emerged from a dense bush [...] holding two huge pitchers quite unlike any other species. The most striking feature was the sheer size of the pitchers—they were bigger than anything else on Trus Madi. Later on, we were to realise that they were the second biggest pitchers of all the Borneo Nepenthes—exceeded only by those of N. rajah on Kinabalu. [...] The evidence strongly suggested the new pitcher-plant was a hybrid of N. lowii and N. edwardsiana. The great size of the pitchers agreed with this idea—being characteristic of hybrids. There was no time to investigate the distribution of this new plant. So, after collecting a few specimens we set off down the mountain for the three-day trek back to Tambunan.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Phillipps, A. & A. Lamb 1996. Pitcher-Plants of Borneo. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu.
  2. ^ Clarke, C.M. 1997. Nepenthes of Borneo. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu.
  3. ^ Marabini, J. 1983. Eine neue Nepenthes-Hybride aus Borneo. Mitt. Bot. München 19: 449-452. ISSN 0006-8179
  4. ^ Briggs, J.G.R. 1984. The discovery of Nepenthes × trusmadiensis—an impressive new pitcher-plant. Malaysian Naturalist 38(2): 13–15 & 18–19.