SPECIAL ISSUE - Aipc

• Nepenthes baramensis C. Clarke, J. A. Moran & C. C. Lee, sp. nov.
This species was for many years classed
informally as a variety of Nepenthes rafflesiana
Jack; the most widely-used moniker was
“var. elongata”.
However, it differs in both morphology
and ecology from the typical form of N. rafflesiana
to such a degree that we believed it
merited specific status. Compared to N. rafflesiana
pitchers, those of N. baramensis are
highly elongated and slimmer in profile. The
pitchers also differ in other ways: for example,
whereas aerial N. rafflesiana pitchers do
not possess an epicuticular waxy zone on the
interior surface, those of N. baramensis do.
Conversely, N. baramensis pitchers produce
little nectar, and do not display the complex
peristome/body contrast pattern and fragrance
production of N. rafflesiana.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, N. baramensis
catches very little invertebrate prey compared
to N. rafflesiana, and recent findings suggest
that this species may derive some nitrogen
from the excreta of bats which can occasionally
be found roosting in its pitchers.
N. baramensis occurs in peat swamp and
heath forests in northwest Borneo. The specific
epithet “baramensis” refers to the Baram
River region, centre of abundance for this
species.
Description:
C. Clarke, J. A. Moran & C. C. Lee
(2011), “Nepenthes baramensis (Nepenthaceae)
- a new species from north-western
Borneo”. Blumea 56(3): 229–233.
by Jonathan Moran
18 - AIPC Special Issue n. 4