Nepenthes truncata (/nɪˈpɛnθz trʌŋˈkɑːtə/; from Latin truncatus "terminating abruptly") is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to the Philippines. It is known from the islands of Dinagat, Leyte, and Mindanao.[3] The species grows at an elevation of 0–1500 m above sea level.[4] Nepenthes truncata is characterised by its heart-shaped (truncate) leaves and very large pitchers, which can reach up to 40 cm in height.

Nepenthes truncata
A pitcher of N. truncata found in northern Mindanao at an elevation of 230 m
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Nepenthaceae
Genus: Nepenthes
Species:
N. truncata
Binomial name
Nepenthes truncata
Synonyms
  • Nepenthes megamphora
    Merr. & Quis in sched. (1915)

Nepenthes robcantleyi was once considered a dark, highland form of this species.[5][6]

Carnivory

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On September 29, 2006, at the Botanical Gardens in Lyon, France, a Nepenthes truncata was photographed containing the decomposing corpse of a mouse. This incident is the first record of a mammal being successfully trapped in the pitchers of N. truncata indoors. Both N. rajah [7] and N. rafflesiana[8] are known to occasionally catch small mammals in the wild. Although it is possible for Nepenthes truncata to trap mice, the calcium heavy bones will not be digested.[citation needed]

Natural hybrids

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References

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  1. ^ Clarke, C.; Cantley, R.; Nerz, J.; Rischer, H.; Witsuba, A. (2000). "Nepenthes truncata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2000: e.T39708A10257507. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2000.RLTS.T39708A10257507.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ Macfarlane, J.M. 1911. New species of Nepenthes. Contributions from the Botanical Laboratory of the University of Pennsylvania 3(3): 207–210. (plates I–II)
  3. ^ McPherson, S.R. & V.B. Amoroso 2011. Field Guide to the Pitcher Plants of the Philippines. Redfern Natural History Productions, Poole.
  4. ^ a b McPherson, S.R. 2009. Pitcher Plants of the Old World. 2 volumes. Redfern Natural History Productions, Poole.
  5. ^ Cheek, M. 2011. Nepenthes robcantleyi sp. nov. (Nepenthaceae) from Mindanao, Philippines. Nordic Journal of Botany 29(6): 677–681. doi:10.1111/j.1756-1051.2011.01449.x
  6. ^ Mey, F.S. 2011. Nepenthes robcantleyi aka "Nepenthes black truncata". Strange Fruits: A Garden's Chronicle, December 27, 2011.
  7. ^ Phillipps, A. 1988. "A second record of rats as prey in Nepenthes rajah" (PDF). (203 KiB) Carnivorous Plant Newsletter 17(2): 55.
  8. ^ Moran, J.A. 1991. The role and mechanism of Nepenthes rafflesiana pitchers as insect traps in Brunei. Ph.D. thesis, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland.
  9. ^ Mann, P. 1998. A trip to the Philippines. Carnivorous Plant Newsletter 27(1): 6–11.
  10. ^ Kurata, S. & M. Toyoshima 1972. Philippine species of Nepenthes. The Gardens' Bulletin Singapore 26(1): 155–158. Abstract Archived 2011-07-22 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ Cheek, M.R. & M.H.P. Jebb 2001. Nepenthaceae. Flora Malesiana 15: 1–157.

Carnivorous plant resource. 2019.[1]


Further reading

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