Best of Pitcher Plants

Nepenthes clipeata

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Nepenthes eymae

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Nepenthes lingulata

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Nepenthes jamban

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Nepenthes hamata

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Nepenthes ampullaria

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Nepenthes adnata

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Complexity of Nepenthes Taxonomy

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Nepethes taxonomy is definitely a complex thing to deal with... heated arguments and self-interest fueling it worse... as in the original Greek meaning of the word Nepenthes, many get drunk in such arguments. It is an addiction.

Naturally, Nepenthes species can easily cross hybridise among the species and the degree of hybridisation is also varying as Nepenthes hybrids can cross breed again with their parents. This results in an enormous amount of variation which is good for adaptability but bad for taxonomy.

And adding more to that problem, some scientist seemed to be too enthusiastic in discovering new species that they look at the same species of plant of some minor abberations and labelled them as new species, or subspecies or varieties. Sometimes I wonder will this lead to every Nepenthes plant as a new species or variety as the trend goes on... as every plant is unique.

Some might to be too enthusiatic with correct motives but many are with wrong motives to name more Nepenthes species in their honour and to somebody's or some places' honour. More and more taxonomist are dedicating plants to people than sticking to the original function of describing a plant based on the morphological features in scientific terms. The endings "-iana", "-ii" and "-ensis" are choking up Nepenthes species list!!! Can't they describe it with proper Latin names instead of making the genus a list of honoured names?

With human error again when the age of exploration started...many early collectors did not document their plants well, ending up with a thick mist of mystery of maybe known species. Most plants don't have pitchers or fragmented pitchers and are only left with few clumsy leaves that dries and curls weirdly and leaving even the best taxonomists confused.

As the taxonomy of Nepenthes gets worst, I attempt to clear them out and make them adhere to Linnaeus original systematic nomenclature of Nepenthes. However with better classification systems arising, this too might fail as Nepenthes as fast progressing in micro-evolution. For practical purposes and perhaps to add more fire to Nepenthes taxonomy arguments, I shall discuss some data deficient and problems in Nepenthes taxonomy.

Philippinian Nepenthes Chaos: Many new species are being described and many older synonyms are raised to species status. Nepenthes alata has collected much synonyms throughout the years and undoubtedly will continue to do so due to its wide distribution and variability in the Philippines. So anyone want to discuss about Nepenthes philippinensis and Nepenthes copelandii?
Philippinian Nepenthes Chaos II: It's not just Nepenthes alata being the culprit, but also the other more "plump" species like Nepenthes mira, Nepenthes sibuyanensis, Nepethes argentii and Nepenthes mantalingajanensis. It seems every time a new mountain is climbed, a new Nepenthes species appears.
Nepenthes Maxima Complex: Nepenthes maxima is another confusing taxon with the many other closely related species like Nepenthes fusca and Nepenthes boschiana. Much confusion had occured in Borneo due to the extensive explorations there, but more confusion would arise if Sulawesi and New Guinea is further explored. Nepenthes sumatrana, Nepenthes longifolia, Nepenthes beccariana and even Nepenthes rafflesiana is closely related to Nepenthes maxima. Its cases of confusion can be detected from east to west of the Indonesian Archipelago. Again such as widespread species causes a lot of trouble.
Nepenthes Mirabilis Complex: Being the most widespread Nepenthes species, it has collected the most synonyms mainly contributed to F.M. Bailey descriptions of various plants in Australia. Not only in Australia it caused problems, mainland South-East Asia was also its target. It's understandable as it was first discovered there and the explorations were plagued with civil wars. Nepenthes smilesii is of those B.H. Danser did not carefully analyse. And again recently with closer scrutiny, Australia finally has its endemic species. For years people had been curious of Nepenthes rowaniae (till they spelt it wrongly as Nepenthes rowanae) but nobody dared to challenge Danser's stand as not much explorations is made into Cape York. Finally when its site location was discovered, another species of yielded - Nepenthes tenax. In short Nepenthes mirabilis as it names implies, is wonderful is discovering new species.
Over-Detailed-Distinguishing-Nepenthes-Species Botanists: As in the errors of F.M. Bailey, many botanists nowadays seem to follow his footsteps too. Out of a sudden a spurt growth of new closely related yet nothing so spectacular Nepenthes species appeared. Nepenthes zakriana, Nepenthes sharifah-hapsahii, Nepenthes naquiyudinii, Nepenthes ghazallyana, Nepenthes faizaliana...and so many more - all named after someone by someone. This just adds more useless confusion over species like Nepenthes maxima complex (N. fusca, N. boschiana), Nepenthes mirabilis complex (of the hybrids). And worse thing was that people get excited when such unstable taxa are published. Sooner or later, many of these would fall into synonyms. Perhaps we can hope for history to repeat itself through species like Nepenthes rowaniae.
Sumatran Nepenthes Chaos: Sumatra has a rich biodiversity as stretches over the Equator. No doubt it is rivalling the Bornean Nepenthes group as it is further explored, snatching all the glory of Bornean Nepenthes. Nepenthes singalana complex has caused much confusion as its Northern Sumatra counterparts shows higher variation than the type locality of Gunung Singgalang. Nepenthes bongso, Nepenthes diatas, Nepenthes izumiae, Nepenthes lingulata and Nepenthes rigidifolia just to name a few. Again widespread distribution chaos.
Northern Sumatran Nepenthes Chaos II: As mentioned before, Northern Sumtra is blooming with more new species than ever as the terrain there is different. Nepenthes angasanensis and Nepenthes mikei, Nepenthes spectabilis and Nepenthes lavicola are the few highlighted ones.
Nepenthes Gymnamphora Complex: Nepenthes gymnamphora just like Nepenthes singalana, has a north to south distribution in the Sumatran ranges. Jebb and Cheek following Danser proposed Nepenthes pectinata which seems all too closely related with Nepenthes gymnamphora and only location tells them apart. Then in Northern Sumatra again, Nepenthes xiphioides is described. Its influence might have even span over to Borneo as one of its synonyms Nepenthes melamphora is described from Borneo. Even Nepenthes hirsuta might a relative of this complexity as Nepenthes hirsuta had much confusion over the degree of hairyness. Nepenthes hispida, Nepenthes leptochila and perhaps even Nepenthes mapuluensis and Nepenthes macrovulgaris are into such battle. This might be even meeting the elegant Nepenthes northiana as all these species have the tendency of not producing regular aerial pitchers. Nepenthes gymnamphora might be more complex than it seems.
Data Deficient Nepenthes Chaos: Have you ever caught in the anticipation of old unknown described species of Nepenthes junghuhnii, Nepethes mollis, Nepenthes tenuis and Nepenthes beccariana. These elusive species might be after all known species as the holotype was not complete. There are speculations of whether Nepenthes mollis is in fact Nepenthes hurrelliana (which itself is highly controversial). Nepenthes tenuis is one of those rediscovered species which proves otherwise. The only thing we can say is that there is no certainty. We are still left in the dark by the errors of past collectors.
Unexplored New Guinean Nepenthes Chaos: New Guinea is another part of Nepenthes wonderland with more species uncovered. Many species are described in the past but few can be rediscovered due to the political instability there. Chances are that New Guinea holds a great biodiversity of Nepenthes just like Borneo and Sumatra. All Nepenthes locality "regions" seem to have high number of variation which implies that Nepenthes is highly variable whether in small locations or big regions. Adds to more difficulty to Nepenthes classification I must say. However after much said, Nepenthes of New Guinea is promising. Mysteries of the close similarity of Nepenthes aristolochioides and Nepenthes klossii, Nepenthes sumatrana and Nepenthes treubiana despite the long distance separating them needs to be resolve. Again answers might lie in the Nepenthes maxima complex.
Are Nepenthes maxima and Nepenthes mirabilis complexes the basis of all Nepenthes variation? Danser's classification of Nepenthes into six categories have failed us, but will this? The theory of evolution doesn't seem to fit in developing two different Nepenthes complexes of extreme end of shapes - one slender and gracile, the other plump and huge. It rises even to the issue of whether evolution is totally variation and whether it's better to term variation as micro-evolution. Or variation is design? I don't have answers. I am just confused. And I am here to confuse you more.

End of the day the crucial question that demands an answer is that how much variation in a species is enough in telling that it is a separate species. This is just like eliminating the ever micro-evolutionising HIV virus from Earth. The Nepenthes genus is having AIDS, taxonomy of it is incurable... it is as if classification and distinction of species becomes something done for own human selfishness. This is so letting down of explorers who risked their lives bringing back specimens of wonderful Nepenthes only to be thrown into a heated oven of argument which later leaves ashes of their contribution. Even Nature is being exploited for such arguments. Fewer people are caring about the conservation of Nepenthes. All they care is to have some exotic plants at their homes and arguing in Nepenthes forums so that they can boast of having a higher number of species in their collection. Can't we just return to the explorer's spirit of admiring the plants just as they are?

Nepenthes Species List

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ACCEPTED LIST (currently 103 species)

Nepenthes adnata R.Tamin & M.Hotta ex J.Schlauer (1994)

Nepenthes alata F.M. Blanco (1837)

Nepenthes albomarginata T.Lobb ex J.Lindley (1849)

Nepenthes ampullaria W.Jack (1835)

Nepenthes anamensis J.M.Macfarlane (1908)

Nepenthes argentii M.Jebb & M.Cheek (1997)

Nepenthes aristolochioides M.Jebb & M.Cheek (1997)

Nepenthes beccariana J.M.Macfarlane (1908)

Nepenthes bellii K.Kondo (1969)

Nepenthes benstonei C.Clarke (1999)

Nepenthes bicalcarata J.D.Hooker (1873)

Nepenthes bongso P.W.Korthals (1839)

Nepenthes boschiana P.W.Korthals (1839)

Nepenthes burbidgeae J.D.Hooker ex F.Burbidge (1882)

Nepenthes burkei Hort.Veitch ex M.T.Masters (1889)

Nepenthes campanulata S.Kurata (1973)

Nepenthes chaniana C.Clarke, C.C.Lee & S.McPherson (2006)

Nepenthes clipeata B.H.Danser (1928)

Nepenthes danseri M.Jebb & M.Cheek (1997)

Nepenthes densiflora B.H.Danser (1940)

Nepenthes diatas M.Jebb & M.Cheek (1997)

Nepenthes distillatoria C.Linnaeus (1753)

Nepenthes dubia B.H.Danser (1928)

Nepenthes edwardsiana H.Low & J.D.Hooker (1859)

Nepenthes ephippiata B.H.Danser (1928)

Nepenthes eustachya F.A.W.Miquel (1858)

Nepenthes eymae S.Kurata (1984)

Nepenthes fallax G.M.L.Beck(1895)

Nepenthes flava A.Wistuba, J.Nerz & A.Fleischmann (2007)

Nepenthes fusca B.H.Danser (1928)

Nepenthes glabrata J.R.Turnbull & A.T.Middleton (1984)

Nepenthes glandulifera C.C.Lee (2004)

Nepenthes gracilis P.W.Korthals (1839)

Nepenthes gracillima H.N.Ridley (1908)

Nepenthes gymnamphora C.G.C.Reinwardt ex C.G.D.Nees v.Esenbeck (1824)

Nepenthes hamata J.R.Turnbull & A.T.Middleton (1984)

Nepenthes hirsuta J.D.Hooker (1873)

Nepenthes hispida G.M.L.Beck(1895)

Nepenthes hurrelliana M.Cheek & A.Lamb (2003)

Nepenthes inermis B.H.Danser (1928)

Nepenthes insignis B.H.Danser (1928)

Nepenthes izumiae T.Davis, C.Clarke & R.Tamin (2003)

Nepenthes jacquelineae C.Clarke, T.Davis & R.Tamin (2001)

Nepenthes jamban C.C.Lee, Hernawati & P.Akhriadi (2006)

Nepenthes khasiana J.D.Hooker (1873)

Nepenthes klossii H.N.Ridley (1916)

Nepenthes lamii M.Jebb & M.Cheek (1997)

Nepenthes lavicola A.Wistuba & H.Rischer (1996)

Nepenthes lingulata C.C.Lee, Hernawati & P.Akhriadi (2006)

Nepenthes lowii J.D.Hooker (1859)

Nepenthes macfarlanei W.Hemsley (1905)

Nepenthes macrophylla (J.Marabini) M.Jebb & M.Cheek (1997)

Nepenthes macrovulgaris J.R.Turnbull & A.T.Middleton (1988)

Nepenthes madagascariensis J.L.M.Poiret (1797)

Nepenthes mantalingajanensis J.Nerz & A.Wistuba (2007)

Nepenthes mapuluensis J.H.Adam & C.C.Wilcock (1990)

Nepenthes masoalensis R.Schmid-Höllinger (1977)

Nepenthes maxima C.G.C.Reinwardt ex C.G.D.Nees v.Esenbeck (1824)

Nepenthes merrilliana J.M.Macfarlane (1911)

Nepenthes mikei B.Salmon & R.Maulder (1995)

Nepenthes mindanaoensis S.Kurata (2001)

Nepenthes mira M.Jebb & M.Cheek (1998)

Nepenthes mirabilis (J.Loureiro) G.Druce (1916)

Nepenthes muluensis M.Hotta (1966)

Nepenthes murudensis Culham ex M.Jebb & M.Cheek (1997)

Nepenthes neoguineensis J.M.Macfarlane (1911)

Nepenthes northiana J.D.Hooker (1881)

Nepenthes ovata J.Nerz & A.Wistuba (1994)

Nepenthes paniculata B.H.Danser (1928)

Nepenthes papuana B.H.Danser (1928)

Nepenthes pervillei C.L.Blume (1852)

Nepenthes petiolata B.H.Danser (1928)

Nepenthes pilosa B.H.Danser (1928)

Nepenthes platychila C.C.Lee (2002)

Nepenthes rafflesiana W.Jack (1835)

Nepenthes rajah J.D.Hooker (1859)

Nepenthes ramispina H.N.Ridley (1908)

Nepenthes reinwardtiana F.A.W.Miquel (1852)

Nepenthes rhombicaulis S.Kurata (1973)

Nepenthes rigidifolia (C.C.Lee) P.Akhriadi, Hernawati & R.Tamin (2004)

Nepenthes rowaniae F.M.Bailey (1897)

Nepenthes sanguinea J.Lindley (1849)

Nepenthes sibuyanensis J.Nerz (1998)

Nepenthes singalana O.Beccari (1886)

Nepenthes smilesii W.Hemsley (1895)

Nepenthes spathulata B.H.Danser (1935)

Nepenthes spectabilis B.H.Danser (1928)

Nepenthes sumatrana (F.A.W.Miquel) G.M.L.Beck (1895)

Nepenthes talangensis J.Nerz & A.Wistuba (1994)

Nepenthes tenax C.Clarke & R.Kruger (2006)

Nepenthes tentaculata J.D.Hooker (1873)

Nepenthes tenuis J.Nerz & A.Wistuba (1994)

Nepenthes thorelii P.H.Lecomte (1909)

Nepenthes tobaica B.H.Danser (1928)

Nepenthes tomoriana B.H.Danser (1928)

Nepenthes treubiana O.Warburg (1891)

Nepenthes truncata J.M.Macfarlane (1911)

Nepenthes veitchii J.D.Hooker (1859)

Nepenthes ventricosa F.M.Blanco (1837)

Nepenthes vieillardii J.D.Hooker (1873)

Nepenthes villosa J.D.Hooker (1852)

Nepenthes vogelii A.Schuitmann & E.F.Vogel (2002)

Nepenthes xiphioides B.Salmon & R.Maulder (1995)

PENDING OR DATA DEFICIENT SPECIES LIST (currently 19 taxa)

Nepenthes adrianii Batoro, Wartono, M.Jebb et al. (2006)

Is this a synonym of Nepenthes spathulata?

Nepenthes angasanensis R.Maulder, D.Schubert, B.Salmon & B.Quinn (1999)

Is this a synonym of Nepenthes mikei?

Nepenthes borneesis J.H.Adam & C.C.Wilcock (1989)

Is this a synonym of Nepethes boschiana?

Nepenthes carunculata B.H.Danser (1928)

Is this a synonym of Nepethes bongso?

Nepenthes copelandii E.D.Merrill ex J.M.Macfarlane (1908)

Another type of Nepenthes alata again?

Nepenthes deaniana J.M.Macfarlane (1908)

Another type of Nepenthes merriliana again?

Nepenthes faizaliana J.H.Adam & C.C.Wilcock (1991)

Is this a synonym of Nepethes boschiana?

Nepenthes globosa S.Kurata in schedule. (2006)

Not officially published yet.

Nepenthes junghuhnii sensu J.M.Macfarlane in schedule nomen nudum

Does this species exists?

Nepenthes longifolia J.Nerz & A.Wistuba (1994)

Is this a synonym of Nepenthes beccariana?

Nepenthes mollis B.H.Danser (1928)

Does this species exists?

Nepenthes naquiyuddinii J.H.Adam & A.H.Hafiza (2006)

Skeptical of this...

Nepenthes pectinata B.H.Danser (1928)

Is this a synonym of Nepenthes gymnamphora?

Nepenthes peltata S.Kurata (2008)

Another type of Nepenthes alata again?

Nepenthes philippinensis J.M.Macfarlane (1908)

Another type of Nepenthes alata again?

Nepenthes saranganiensis S.Kurata (2003)

Another type of Nepenthes alata again?

Nepenthes sharifah-hapsahii J.H.Adam & A.H.Hafiza (2007)

Skeptical of this...

Nepenthes stenophylla M.T.Masters (1890)

Is this a synonym of Nepenthes fallax or the other way?

Nepenthes zakriana (J.H.Adam & C.C.Wilcock) J.H.Adam & A.H.Hafiza (2006)

Skeptical of this...