Topic: Nepenthes
To: Y'all:
My name is Arthur Lauffenburger, I have been a grower of Orchids as well
as CP for about 25 years. Although I now live here in Sarracenia Heaven
on the Gulf Coast, I've always had a particular fondness for Nepenthes.
I am currently working on 2 projects:
1. A list of the Nepenthes Hybrids, trying to standardize and determine
the actual original hybrid names and which are merely cultivars of the
original cross. I am finally coming to the home stretch on that project
and hope to publish it for everyone's scrutiny in the CPN. Some of you
have already seen the preliminary work (YES, I KNOW there are still a
TON of mistakes, but unless people point them out I won't know where
they are!).
2. A complete set of botanical descriptions of each of the species of
Nepenthes.
Here is a list of plants for which I haven't yet found descriptions, nor
have a good enough representative in my meager collection. I'm trying
to rekey the genus Nepenthes, laugh, well, I've got plenty of time, and
it is helping me to learn the species a lot better.
The point is this, many of the descriptions of plants that were made
back in the early years are sketchy at best, even IF the journals are
available. I'm trying to get a complete collection of the botanical
descriptions of each of the species. This poses a problem: WHAT ARE THE
SPECIES and what are the variations on the species? I find that by
examining the original views of the botanist, as well as the plant
material itself, I can see justifications (or lack) for species status;
i.e., burkei vs ventricosa: difference in number of veins on the lid as
well as variation in the mouth shape, (is that enough?) -or- anamensis
vs. kampotiana and geoffrayi, aren't they merely geographically distinct
populations of the same species?
There are 25 or so that I havenUt been able to find described. They are
as follows:
N. adnata Tamin & Hotta (described in 1986)
N. anamensis Macfarlane 1908
N. aristolochioides 1994
N. bellii Kondo 1969
N. borneensis Adam & Wilc. 1989
N. burkei Masters 1889
N. campanulata Kurata 1973
N. danseri Waig. & Hamal. 1994
N. deaniana Macfarlane 1908
N. densiflora Danser 1940
N. diatas 1994
N. distillatoria Linne 1753
N. glabrata Turnb. & Middle. 1984
(aka N. rubro-maculata, illegal)
N. hamata Turnb. & Middle. 1984
(aka N. dentata)
N. khasiana Hook. f. 1873
N. macrophylla Marabini 1994
N. mapuluensis Adam & Wilc. 1990
N. muluensis Hotta 1966
N. murudensis Culham 1994
N. pervillei Blume 1852
N. philippinensis Macf. 1908
N. rhombicaulis Kurata 1973
N. spathulata Danser 1935
N. thorelii Lecomte 1909
N. truncata Macfarlane 1911
N. ventricosa Blanco 1837
Please use the following criteria and describe any of these that occur
in your collections, I would REALLY appreciate it. Be sure to use adult
plants only.
Stem:
Climbing? Prostrate? Other?
Length:
Stem Shape:
Width:
Leaves:
Petiolate or Sessile? Petiole Shape?
Type of attachment to the stem:
Leaf Shape:
Length x Width (Range):
Margins:
Apex Shape:
Base Shape:
Number of Longitudinal Veins:
Where Veins are Located:
Pennate Veins:
Lower Pitchers:
Complete Shape Description:
Length x Width (Range):
Wings or Ribs:
Width of Wings:
Peristome Shape:
Width of Peristome:
Mouth Shape:
Lid Shape:
Size:
Lid Apex Shape:
Lid Base Shape:
Lid Glands or Appendages:
Spur Shape:
Spur Length:
Upper Pitchers:
Complete Shape Description:
Length x Width (Range):
Wings or Ribs:
Width of Wings:
Peristome Shape:
Width of Peristome:
Mouth Shape:
Lid Shape:
Size:
Lid Apex Shape:
Lid Base Shape:
Lid Glands or Appendages:
Spur Shape:
Spur Length:
Inflorecence:
Raceme or Panicle:
Length,Including Axis:
Number of Flowers on Pedicel:
Length of Pedicel:
Bracts or not:
Indumentum:
Color:
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES:
MOST IMPORTANT!
Why is this species DIFFERENT, & what JUSTIFIES it as a species!
(If you donUt know, donUt guess; leave it blank.)
I would especially like to hear from J. Schauer, A. Wistuba, J. Nerz, T.
Carow, M. Jebb, M. Cheek or R. Walker, if any of you have the time or
inclination to respond. I have been able to see Jebb's discussion in
Nature Malaysiana, as well as Kurata's book and the monograph by Danser,
as well as viewing many of the species at Fuqua in Atlanta. If anyone
cares to help, I'll be foerever indebted and be happy to give credit
where credit is due.
Good growing,
Arthur Lauffenburger
P.S. I was given copies of Nepenthes discussions through mid September
1994, how can I get archives of the remaining discussion letters to
date? I'm brand new to the NET and very inexperienced. <HELP>
artlauff@macsys.amaranth.com