Nepenthes gracillima

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Nepenthes gracillima

Lower pitcher of Nepenthes gracillima. Cultivated plant.

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

Binomial name

Nepenthes gracillima
Ridl. (1908)

Distribution of N. gracillima.

Synonyms

Nepenthes alata
auct. non Blanco: Danser (1928)
[=N. alata/N. benstonei/N. eustachya/N. gracillima/N. mirabilis]
Nepenthes alata
auct. non Blanco: Shivas (1984)
Nepenthes alba
Ridl. (1924)
Nepenthes bongso
auct. non Korth.: Ridl. (1908)
Nepenthes gracillima
sensu Danser (1928)
[=N. gracillima/N. ramispina]
Nepenthes gracillima
sensu Kiew (1990)
[=N. benstonei/N. gracillima/N. ramispina]
Nepenthes gracillima
sensu Jebb & Cheek (1997)
[=N. benstonei/N. gracillima]
Nepenthes gracillima
auct. non Ridl.: Smythies (1965)
[=N. muluensis]
?Nepenthes ramispina
Ridl. (1909)
Nepenthes singalana
auct. non Becc.: Macfarl. in Engl. (1908)
[=N. gracillima/N. singalana]

Nepenthes gracillima (pronounced /nəˈpɛnθiːz ɡɹəsɪlɪmə/, from Latin: comparative of gracilis = slender) is a highland Nepenthes pitcher plant species, native to Peninsular Malaysia.

1 Taxonomy
2 Infraspecific taxa
3 Natural hybrids
4 References

[edit] Taxonomy

N. gracillima is very similar to N. ramispina and there is some debate concerning whether or not the two should be treated as separate species. Charles Clarke lists the following morphological characters that distinguish the two species.^[1]

Character N. gracillima N. ramispina

Spur usually simple extensively branched

Lid glands few, large many, small

Colour of upper pitchers ivory/white, sometimes with pink blotches on either the inner and/or outer surfaces green with black blotches only on the outer surface

Leaf shape narrow, lanceolate broader, obovate/oblong

Pitchers often quite bulbous immediately below the hip broader below the hip, but not distinctly bulbous

Colour of inner surface of pitchers same as outer surface or with red speckles glaucous blue/green

Stature very small larger, typical of most Nepenthes

Character	N. gracillima	N. ramispina
Spur	usually simple	extensively branched
Lid glands	few, large	many, small
Colour of upper pitchers	ivory/white, sometimes with pink blotches on either the inner and/or outer surfaces	green with black blotches only on the outer surface
Leaf shape	narrow, lanceolate	broader, obovate/oblong
Pitchers	often quite bulbous immediately below the hip	broader below the hip, but not distinctly bulbous
Colour of inner surface of pitchers	same as outer surface or with red speckles	glaucous blue/green
Stature	very small	larger, typical of most Nepenthes

N. gracillima holotype (Ridley 12064)

[edit] Infraspecific taxa

Nepenthes gracillima f. ramispina (Ridl.) Hort.Westphal (2000) [=N. ramispina]
Nepenthes gracillima var. major Ridl. (1924) [=N. ramispina]^[1]

[edit] Natural hybrids

The following natural hybrids involving N. gracillima have been recorded.

N. gracillima × N. macfarlanei^[1]

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b ^c Clarke, C.M. 2001. Nepenthes of Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu.

Schnell, D., Catling, P., Folkerts, G., Frost, C., Gardner, R., et al. (2000). Nepenthes gracillima. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Listed as Endangered (EN B1+2e v2.3).
Kiew, R.G. 1990. Pitcher plants of Gunung Tahan. Journal of Wildlife and National Parks (Malaysia) 10: 34–37.
Shivas, R.G. 1983. Nepenthes of Gunung Ulu Kali.PDF (1.54 MiB) Carnivorous Plant Newsletter 12(3): 65–67.
Smythies, B.E. 1965. The distribution and ecology of pitcher-plants (Nepenthes) in Sarawak. UNESCO Humid Tropics Symposium, June–July 1963, Kuching, Sarawak.