Re: CP digest 580
Alastair Robinson (100611.1627@compuserve.com)
04 Jan 96 15:07:02 EST
Christoph, in the wild the three Malaysian mountain species, Nn. gracillima,
sanguinea and macfarlaneii, so I have observed, grow in several different types
of soils and habitats - from pure, rich, heavy peat to sandy soils and
especially on bare rock; all three tolerate many types of soil as a result of
the great variation in habitat.
Of these three, N.sanguinea is, by far, the most tolerant in terms of
temperature and mistreatment, followed by N.gracillima which is easy as well,
followed by N. macfarlaneii - it is an easy species, but you will not find many
that are at all tolerant of temperatures higher than 23/24 degrees celsius -
they display their dislike to adverse temperatures by, in my experience, turning
yellow and slowing in growth, to eventually pass away. Due to variation in
peninsular Malaysia's relief features, some N.macfarlaneii stands, as with the
other two, have adapted to tolerate lower, and thus warmer habitats. The
Fraser's Hill specimens are a good example; N.macfarlaneii is extremely rare
there, because it is not high enough to sport the ideal temperatures, but the
plants from there are a little more tolerant of higher temperatures than are
those from Gunung Berincang and Ulu Kali, the two higher peaks in the peninsular
part of the country. This could be said for N.sanguinea as well - N.gracillima
does not occur in the locality, as far as I am aware.
I would also like to support Perry's claim of the N.villosa pitcher seen
in the journal, which has reached England. It is N.villosa as far as I can see
- upper pitchers aren't uncommon, contrary to what several books seemed to
suggest ( unknown etc.). - and the pitchers on some plants I saw, over 3 metres
( the plants, I mean) high, had pitchers of just the kind he has photographed.
However, N.*harryana does occur on the trail; below mempening, at a site that
guides claim N.edwardsiana grows, with some huge N.*kinabaluensis. These plants
are unmistakeably not villosas, but neither are they the tall, cylindrical
pitchers of the Kinabalu form of N.edwardsiana - they are intermediate in shape
between N.villosa and the former, just like those in Kurata's book, and do not
appear to be similar to those N.edwardsiana's from Trus madi ( the 'squat'
version).
I hope I have been helpful.
Best wishes, Alastair.