| Nepenthes palawanensis | |
|---|---|
| A lower pitcher of N. palawanensis photographed by Stewart McPherson | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Core eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Nepenthaceae |
| Genus: | Nepenthes |
| Species: | N. palawanensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Nepenthes palawanensis S.McPherson, Cervancia, Chi C.Lee, Jaunzems, Mey & A.S.Rob. (2010)[1] |
|
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 1100–1236 m above sea level.[1] It was discovered in February 2010 by Jehson Cervancia and Stewart McPherson.[2]
The species appears to be most closely related to N. attenboroughii, which grows on nearby Mount Victoria.[2][3] Nepenthes palawanensis can be distinguished from N. attenboroughii by its pitchers, which are even larger, sometimes exceeding 35 cm in height,[4] and with a capacity of 1.5–2 litres of water.[5] (The largest pitchers remain those of N. rajah.)[5] Another difference from N. attenboroughii is that the pitchers of N. palawanensis are lined with orange to red hairs.[5]
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.[6][7]
McPherson's discovery of N. attenboroughii helped to obtain local protected status for the Mount Victoria range; following the discovery of N. palawanensis, he hopes to achieve a similar status for the Sultan range.[5]
Nepenthes palawanensis forms natural hybrids with a taxon resembling N. philippinensis.[8]
Incompletely diagnosed taxa: N. sp. Misool • N. sp. Papua • N. sp. Sulawesi
Possible extinct species: N. echinatus • N. echinosporus • N. major