Large form of this wonderful species with orange pitchers. Nepenthes ampullaria clearly belongs to the plants with unusual growth habit. In Nepenthes ampullaria, from a certain size of the main shoot, a large number of basals are formed, which are characterized by large pitchers on vanishingly small leaves. From a certain age onwards, this can lead to a sea of large basal pitchers being formed around the main shoot, which seem to simply stand freely on the ground.This is N. ampullaria's way of "detrivory", using detritus falling into the pichers as fertilizer. However, these lower pitchers also provide habitat and shelter for many animal species. Even one of the smallest frog species discovered to date, Microhyla nepenthicola, uses the pots as a spawning ground. In the wild, N. ampullaria inhabits swampy forest areas in Borneo, New Guinea, Malaysia, the Maluku Islands, Singapor, Sumatra, Thailand and other small areas below 1000 m.a.s.l. (higher altitudes, however, have already been recorded). This makes the species one of the most widespread of the genus.The almost spherical, laterally flattened pitchers are absolutely characteristic for this species.Extremely interesting species for every lowland setup, if the space for larger plants is given.
Large form of this wonderful species with speckled pitchers. Nepenthes ampullaria clearly belongs to the plants with unusual growth habit. In Nepenthes ampullaria, from a certain size of the main shoot, a large number of basals are formed, which are characterized by large pitchers on vanishingly small leaves. From a certain age onwards, this can lead to a sea of large basal pitchers being formed around the main shoot, which seem to simply stand freely on the ground.This is N. ampullaria's way of "detrivory", using detritus falling into the pichers as fertilizer. However, these lower pitchers also provide habitat and shelter for many animal species. Even one of the smallest frog species discovered to date, Microhyla nepenthicola, uses the pots as a spawning ground. In the wild, N. ampullaria inhabits swampy forest areas in Borneo, New Guinea, Malaysia, the Maluku Islands, Singapor, Sumatra, Thailand and other small areas below 1000 m.a.s.l. (higher altitudes, however, have already been recorded). This makes the species one of the most widespread of the genus.The almost spherical, laterally flattened pitchers are absolutely characteristic for this species.Extremely interesting species for every lowland setup, if the space for larger plants is given.
Longer known as Nepenthes insignis biak form. The species received its species status as its own isolated group in 2018. It is described by the authors that Nepenthes biak should not form lower pitcher, but rather primary and secondary upper pitchers. The epithet "biak" comes from the Papuan island of the same name, which this species inhabits exclusively as an endemic. There it is found near sea level on limestone rocks or more rarely as an epiphyte on mangroves. Due to the location of only a few kilometers south of the equator and the oceanic climate, there is a constant humid climate with high temperatures all year round. Nepenthes biak is the more compact of the two species and therefore much easier to grow in limited space.
Very impressive form of Nepenthes insignis. The species comes from New Guinea and surrounding small islands, where it inhabits the lowland forest. This is the species from which the smaller Nepenthes biak, formerly known as Nepenthes insignis "Biak-form" was split off.In its natural range, Nepenthes insignis grows primarily epiphytically in dense moss.Interestingly, N. insignis seems to feed mainly on large-winged cockroaches.Externally the species shows a dark red, broad and serrated peristome, reduced wings and more or less strongly developed red spots on the green pitcher body.
Absolutely fascinating species!Nepenthes klosiii forms a hood that attracts flying insects with nectar to the peristome. The semi-transparent, translucent backside signals an exit to the insects and makes them fly directly into the pitcher. The same trapping mechanism can otherwise only be observed in the genus in Nepenthes aristolochioides, which forms very similar but smaller pitchers.Nepenthes klossi is endemic to a small area of Irian Jaya (Indonesian part of Papua), where it occurs at 930-2000 m.a.s.l..
The most extreme highlander of the genus. Nepenthes lamii can be found even at 3520 m.a.s.l. (!), where temperatures below freezing can occur. The species is found in New Guinea on Papua.Nepenthes lamii shows red, bulbous pitchers, with violet peristome and lighter inside of the pitcher, the upper pitchers correspond to the lower pitchers, but are slimmer and can be lighter in color. Nepenthes monticola was removed from the species N. lamii in 2011 into its own taxon.Due to the extreme location, often exposed to strong winds, the species is only suitable for advanced growers. The growth of this species is very slow, a larger specimen therefore an honor and award for every keeper.
Nepenthes maxima is certainly one of the most variable species in the whole genus, both morphologically and in coloration, so that it is often difficult to believe that all these plants are conspecific. However, the appendages on the lid are an unmistakable feature to determine at least already the closer relationship group. It belongs to the easier (='medium') upland species. N. maxima grows easily under a wide range of conditions and is very tolerant of higher temperatures, in nature it is found at 600-2500 m.a.s.l.. "Maxima" means "the largest" and refers to the considerably large pitchers in adult N. maxima, however, it does not produce the largest pitchers in the genus as of today. In 2016, the group N. minima was resolved from N. maxima. The very closely related species remains much smaller. Very robust and adaptable species, whose variability alone is fascinating.
Nepenthes amullaria clearly belongs to the plants with an unusual growth habit. In Nepenthes ampullaria, from a certain size of the main shoot, a multitude of basals are formed, which are characterized by large pitchers on vanishingly small leaves. From a certain age onwards, this can lead to a sea of large basal pitchers being formed around the main shoot, which seem to simply stand freely.This is N. ampullaria's way of "detrivory", using detritus falling into the pitchers as fertilizer. However, these soil pots also provide habitat and shelter for many animal species. Even one of the smallest frog species discovered to date, Microhyla nepenthicola, uses the pitchersas a spawning ground.In the wild, N. ampullaria inhabits swampy forest areas in Borneo, New Guinea, Malaysia, the Maluku Islands, Singapor, Sumatra, Thailand and other small areas below 1000 m.a.s.l. This makes the species one of the most widespread of the genus.The almost spherical, laterally flattened pitchers are absolutely characteristic for this species.Extremely interesting species for every lowland setup, if the space for larger plants is given.
A little known Nepenthes that can only be found on the remote Waigeo Island. Waigeo is off the north-west coast of New Guinea.There the species is found at 0-320 m.a.s.l. in the lowlands. This isolated location has resulted in the species being one of those that are less closely related to most other, Southeast Asian species due to their geographic location and have been evolving independently for a long time.The upper pitchers of this species are tubular, with a broad pitcher base and edge-forming reduced wings. The base pitchers still have wings but are similar in shape.The color of the pitchers is very light, usually yellow-green with varying degrees of red blotches.Very rare, unusual species of the genus.
New introduction!A lowland species from the Moluccas, related to Nepenthes danseri. The species grows on ultramafic soils. Very rare in cultivation!
Nepenthes oblanceolata has long been synonymised with N. maxima. It is a small plant that occurs in open habitats of the central highlands of New Guinea.
This still undescribed species is reminiscent of Nepenthes klossii and therefore often circulates provisionally among collectors as Nepenthes "pseudoklossii". Like Nepenthes klosiii it forms a hood that attracts flying insects with nectar to the peristome. The semi-transparent, translucent back signals an exit to the insects and ensures that they fly directly into the pitcher. The same trapping mechanism can otherwise only be observed in the genus in Nepenthes aristolochioides, which forms very similar but smaller pitchers.