Date: Wed, 11 Mar 98 23:57 EST From: dave evans <T442119@RUTADMIN.RUTGERS.EDU> To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg908$foo@default> Subject: Re: Re: N. vent./burkei refried
Hello Rich, Trent, Jan,
> I don't have any direct personal experience, but to quote from Jebb and
> Cheek's Skeletal Revision of Nepenthes.
>
> "Nepenthes burkei is closely related to N. venticosa of Luzon. The
> present species can be distinguished by the less stongly waisted,
> geen-blotched purple pitchers with lid as large as mouth and with 6 or 7
> pairs of nerves. In N. ventricosa the pitchers are more narrowly
> waisted, glossy yellowish white, with lids much smaller than the mouth
> and with only 3-4 pairs of longitudinal veins in the leaf-blade"
>
> These differences seem rather subtle to me - does anyone know if the
> ranges overlap at all?
Er, I haven't counted the nerves in the leaves, but I can say that I
have seen these other listed differences in the same plant! Especially
with regard to the lids being small or large. The lower pitchers tend
to have the smaller lids.
> I too am confused by N. petiolata. According to Jebb and Cheek's key,
> the peristome ribs of N. petiolata are "prominent, higher than 1 mm, with
> teeth extended internally to 3 mm". This makes me think that the
> pictures I have seen labelled N. petiolata probably are alata.
I have one! It is *not* the same species as the one I received labled
as N.alata-with a doubt. Then again, my N.alata (red) is probably really
N.philippinensis as it doesn't really match any photo's in the CPN labled
as N.alata. The leaves on the N.petiolata have very pronounced petioles,
the only other species coming close is N.truncata. It also has a hairy,
tendril (the hairs are thick and dark), truncate leaves and looks rather
like what I expect from an F1 hybrid between N.truncata and N.alata.
Oh, this one has three very prominent nerves, I can see them from across
the room as the light strikes the unfurling leaves.
Which brings me to another question, Jan. I can't recall the issue
or Vol. (It is the same issue you mention N.splendiana and several other
names you're unsure of.), but there is an article about John DeKennel
(sp?) and Long Wood Gardens. In the article there are photos showing N.
truncata, N.villosa, N.truncata * N.alata, and some others. However,
I do not see any N.truncata in the supposed hybrid and it looks more
like all the other photos of N.alata I have seen than even my plants of
N.alata! Is that really N.truncata * N.alata???
> I guess while I'm at it, I'll throw in another question - namely - what
> are the issues regarding whether or not N. philippinensis is a species or
> a variation of alata? Jebb and Cheek lump it in with alata but don't
> give any details.
Well, it figures. I can't see the difference between N.burkei and N.
ventricosa, but they can. And I can see a decent difference between
these last two you mention, but they don't. Boy, oh boy, taxonomy
sure does seem like fun! Species are like a******s (at least these days),
everyone has got one (or two).
For the challenged, that last paragraph is supposed to be a joke.
Taxonomically challenged,
Dave Evans
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