Pitcherplants in Borneo - Highlands



 

Nepenthes villosa

One of the high-montain-species is Nepenthes villosa. You can find it at an altitude of 3300 meter near the summit of Mt.Kinabalu. 

Nepenthes edwardsiana ssp. macrophylla

Nepenthes edwardsiana is located on the montains Kinabalu, Tambuyukon, Trusmadi and perhaps Pinesowitan (east of Trusmadi). The original type, described by Hooker is found on Kinabalu and Tambuyukon, the subspecie macrophylla is endemic to Trusmadi (and perhaps Pinesowitan). 

The two types are different because of the shape of the mouth and the much larger leafs of the ssp macrophylla (max. 60cm long). But these two differences are not so characteristic to make a new specie, as A.Phillipps and Lamb have done in their book "Pitcherplants of Borneo". 

Nepenthes lowii 

This specie is common to a few montains in Borneo: Kinabalu, Trusmadi, Mulu, Murud, Menkobo and perhaps some more with an altitude of min. 1800 meter. 

Nepenthes X trusmadiensis with the two parental species Nepenthes edwardsiana ssp.macrophylla and Nepenthes lowii, photographed on Trusmadi 

These three species were found on Gunong Trusmadi/Sabah at an altitude of 2500 meter. Nepenthes x trusmadiensis is a hybrid between Nepenthes edwardsiana ssp. macrophylla and Nepenthes lowii and is endemic to Gunong Trusmadi. The lowest temperature, which I measured there was -2 degree Celsius at night! There were ice-pearls on the leafes. 

To cultivate such highlandspecies it is absolutly necessary to cool down at night. You will have good success if you have a permanent night-temperature of 10-15 degree Celsius and a day-temperature of 25-30 degree Celsius. 

Nepenthes rajah 

One of the endemic pitcherplants of Mt.Kinabalu. The specie is adapted to Ultrabasic soil (Serpentine), which is rich in magnesia. 

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