Hello Canadian CP'er,
I'm having a difficult time telling some species of
Nepenthes apart also. The thing with
N. gymnamphora is, it is ridiculously variable. Unlike most of the named species, this one,
N. maxima and
N. singalana appear to be in the process of splitting themselves into other species, so there is no clear way of separating one group into one species and another group into yet another species.
Some of the plants called
Nepenthes gymnamphora show a dimorphism similar to what you see in
N. ampullaria. The lower sections of the stems produce relatively small leaves with very large pitchers, while the upper sections of the stems produce very large leaves and very small pitchers. Unlike the upper pitchers of
N. a., the upper pitcher of
N. g. are fully functional. I do not know if all the plants thus far identified as
N. g. show this dimorphism, but if not, I would think it would be a good idea to look at this a possible species defining feature... BTW, all the plants I have seen labeled as
N. g. look different. To me, the species is a mess, LOL. Following Charles Clarke's lead, we could put a couple more species into just for fun...
I don't know if
N. xiphioides shows this pattern also. I have one tiny branch, and it as grown about four inches in two years... I am not getting much data from my plant
**UPDATE** My
N. x. has started growing a basal rosette, on a short stolon no less. The rosette pitchers are very small, just like the pitchers on the older stem, which appear to also be lower pitchers, not upper pitchers. It does not seem very close to other plants I have seen called
N. gymnamphora, but the leaf shape is very close. Not sure if that is a superficial characteristic or if it represents a close relationship between the two species...
I have a couple of TC plants of
N. g. from Gunung Talakmau. These bear a striking resemblance to my seed grown
N. dubia from Gunung Talakmau. I am pretty sure one or the other are hybrids.
As more of the Sunda is explored and the life forms are recorded, we will get a more refined idea about how to catalog
Nepenthes. Basically, this process has only just begun to scratch below the surface. New primate species are still being discovered, and
Nepenthes tend to take a back seat regarding research efforts. There is a new emphasis and a push toward giving
Nepenthes more attention, but we will not know how this turns for quite a while.
Back to
N. glabrata. It seems to be more distinct than both
N. eymae and
N. hamata, all three were discover on Gunung Lumut. At this point, I am pretty sure that
N. eymae is a geo-form of
N. maxima, while
N. hamata is a distinct species, but Sulawesian plants need a lot more research and new information could change this up real quick. The two species I compare
N. glabrata to are
N. argentii (not even close really) and
N. bellii (a bit more similar).
im kind of confused lol, they do look similar, and what about nepenthes galbrata, gymnamphora, or n. xiphoides? what are your opinions?
im kind of confused lol, they do look similar, and what about nepenthes galbrata, gymnamphora, or n. xiphoides? what are your opinions?
**UPDATE** My N. x. has started growing a basal rosette, on a short stolon no less. The rosette pitchers are very small, just like the pitchers on the older stem, which appear to also be lower pitchers, not upper pitchers. It does not seem very close to other plants I have seen called N. gymnamphora, but the leaf shape is very close. Not sure if that is a superficial characteristic or if it represents a close relationship between the two species...
