Nepenthes gracilis explained

Nepenthes gracilis (; from Latin: gracilis "slender"), or the slender pitcher-plant,[1] is a common lowland pitcher plant that is widespread in the Sunda region. It has been recorded from Borneo, Cambodia,[2] Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Sulawesi, Sumatra, and Thailand.[3] [4] [5] [6] [7] The species has a wide altitudinal distribution of 0 to 1100 m[8] (and perhaps even 1700 m) above sea level, although most populations are found below 100 m and plants are rare above 1000 m.[9] Despite being a widespread plant, natural hybrids between N. gracilis and other species are quite rare.

Nepenthes gracilis was formally described by Pieter Willem Korthals in his 1839 monograph, "Over het geslacht Nepenthes".

Nepenthes abgracilis from the Philippines is named for its superficial similarity to this species.[10]

Carnivory

The small, elongated pitchers of N. gracilis appear relatively unremarkable and have a very thin peristome. Nevertheless, the species is unusual (and possibly unique) in that the underside of the pitcher lid bears an uneven layer of wax crystals. This layer is not as thick as, and structurally distinct from, that found in the waxy zone of the pitcher interior, and insects can easily adhere to it in dry conditions. During downpours, however, it functions as part of a trapping mechanism, whereby the impact of raindrops striking the lid causes insects to lose their footing and fall into the pitcher cup below.[11]

Distribution

One of the most widespread Nepenthes species, N. gracilis is native to Borneo, Cambodia, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, central Sulawesi, and southernmost Thailand. It has also been recorded from many smaller islands, including Bangka, Batu Islands, Belitung,[12] Bengkalis, Ko Lanta, Ko Tarutao, Labuan,[13] Langkawi, Mendol, Mentawai Islands (Siberut), Meranti Islands (Padang, Rangsang, and Tebing Tinggi), Musala, Nias, Penang, Phuket, Riau Islands (Lingga Islands, Natuna Islands,[14] and Riau Archipelago), and Rupat.[15]

Evolutionary origins

In 2001, Charles Clarke performed a cladistic analysis of the Nepenthes species of Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia using 70 morphological characteristics of each taxon. The following is a portion of the resultant cladogram, showing part of "Clade 6", which includes N. gracilis.[16]

When molecular genetic DNA sequence data instead of morphological characters are used to perform similar analyses,[17] [18] it becomes evident that N. gracilis is not closely related to any of these 4 species. Rather, N. gracilis is the basal lineage within a "N. mirabilis group", a clade that also includes N. bicalcarata, a group of species around N. tomoriana (several species from Sulawesi, Papua and New Caledonia), N. ampullaria, N. mirabilis and N. rafflesiana sensu lato. The contrast between molecular and morphological phylogenies implies that the morphological characters evolved quite fast and repeatedly, and do not necessarily reflect shared ancestry of the species.

Infraspecific taxa

Despite varying little across its range, N. gracilis has a number of infraspecific taxa. Most of these are no longer considered valid.

Natural hybrids

The following natural hybrids involving N. gracilis have been recorded.

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Phillipps, A. & A. Lamb 1996. Pitcher-Plants of Borneo. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu.
  2. Mey, F.S. 2016. The beautiful Nepenthes kampotiana x bokorensis. Strange Fruits: A Garden's Chronicle, 5 October 2016.
  3. McPherson, S.R. 2009. Pitcher Plants of the Old World. 2 volumes. Redfern Natural History Productions, Poole.
  4. McPherson, S.R. & A. Robinson 2012. Field Guide to the Pitcher Plants of Sulawesi. Redfern Natural History Productions, Poole.
  5. McPherson, S.R. & A. Robinson 2012. Field Guide to the Pitcher Plants of Borneo. Redfern Natural History Productions, Poole.
  6. Catalano, M. 2010. . Prague.
  7. McPherson, S.R. & A. Robinson 2012. Field Guide to the Pitcher Plants of Sumatra and Java. Redfern Natural History Productions, Poole.
  8. McPherson, S.R. & A. Robinson 2012. Field Guide to the Pitcher Plants of Peninsular Malaysia and Indochina. Redfern Natural History Productions, Poole.
  9. Adam, J.H., C.C. Wilcock & M.D. Swaine 1992. Web site: The ecology and distribution of Bornean Nepenthes. . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110722233248/http://myais.fsktm.um.edu.my/8918/1/10.pdf . 2011-07-22 . Journal of Tropical Forest Science 5(1): 13–25.
  10. Cheek M., Jebb M. . 2013 . The Nepenthes micramphora (Nepenthaceae) group, with two new species from Mindanao, Philippines . Phytotaxa . 151 . 1. 25–34 . 10.11646/phytotaxa.151.1.2 . free .
  11. Bauer U., Di Giusto B., Skepper J., Grafe T.U., Federle W. . 2012 . With a flick of the lid: a novel trapping mechanism in Nepenthes gracilis pitcher plants . PLOS ONE . 7 . 6. e38951 . 10.1371/journal.pone.0038951 . 22719998 . 3374759 . 2012PLoSO...738951B . free .
  12. Hidayat, S., J. Hidayat, Hamzah, E. Suhandi, Tatang & Ajidin 2003. Analisis vegetasi dua jenis tumbuhan pemakan serangga di Padang Pinang Anyang, Pulau Belitung. [Vegetation analysis of two insectivorous plants in Padang Pinang Anyang, Belitung Island.] Biodiversitas 4(2): 93–96.
  13. Burbidge F.W. . 1882 . Notes on the new Nepenthes . The Gardeners' Chronicle . 17 . 420. 56 .
  14. Mansur, M. 2012. Keanekaragaman jenis tumbuhan pemakan serangga dan laju fotosintesisnya di Pulau Natuna. [Diversity on insectivorous plants and its photosynthetic rate in Natuna Island.] Berita Biologi 11(1): 33–42. Abstract
  15. Clarke, C.M. 2001. Appendix C: Distribution Maps. In: Nepenthes of Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu. pp. 299–307.
  16. Clarke, C.M. 2001. Nepenthes of Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu.
  17. Scharmann . Mathias . Wistuba . Andreas . Widmer . Alex . October 2021 . Introgression is widespread in the radiation of carnivorous Nepenthes pitcher plants . Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution . 163 . 107214 . 10.1016/j.ympev.2021.107214 . 1095-9513 . 34052438. 20.500.11850/494608 . free .
  18. Murphy . Bruce . Forest . Félix . Barraclough . Timothy . Rosindell . James . Bellot . Sidonie . Cowan . Robyn . Golos . Michal . Jebb . Matthew . Cheek . Martin . March 2020 . A phylogenomic analysis of Nepenthes (Nepenthaceae) . Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution . 144 . 106668 . 10.1016/j.ympev.2019.106668 . 1095-9513 . 31682924.
  19. Macfarlane, J.M. 1908. Nepenthaceae. In: A. Engler. Das Pflanzenreich IV, III, Heft 36: 1–91.
  20. Blume, C.L. 1852. Ord. Nepenthaceae. In: Museum Botanicum Lugduno-Batavum, sive stirpium exoticarum novarum vel minus cognitarum ex vivis aut siccis brevis expositio. Tom. II. Nr. 1. E.J. Brill, Lugduni-Batavorum. pp. 5–10.
  21. Clarke, C.M. 1997. Nepenthes of Borneo. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu.
  22. Fretwell S . 2013 . Back in Borneo to see giant Nepenthes. Part 2: Mt Tambuyukon and Poring . . 108 . 6–15 .
  23. Lee, C.C. 2004. Nepenthes. In: Sarawak Bau Limestone Biodiversity. H.S. Yong, F.S.P. Ng and E.E.L. Yen (eds). The Sarawak Museum Journal Vol. LIX, No. 80; Special Issue No. 6: 71–77.
  24. Tan W.K., Wong C.L., Frazier C.K. . 1996 . Nepenthes × (rafflesiana and gracilis)? . Nature Malaysiana . 21 . 82–85 .
  25. Bednar, B.L. 1985. Web site: Nepenthes ✕ dominii and var. intermedia. . Carnivorous Plant Newsletter 14(4): 105–106.

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