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Jul 30, 2010: Chlorogalum pomeridianum
Jul 31, 2009:
Nepenthes rafflesiana
Jul 31, 2007:
Mentzelia hispida
Jul 31, 2006:
Mimulus guttatus
Jul 31, 2005:
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew - Cacti Beds
July 31, 2009 : Nepenthes rafflesiana
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Plant Family / Families: Nepentheaceae
Scientific Name and Author: Nepenthes rafflesiana Jack
Institution: Singapore Botanic Gardens
Name Location: The Republic of Singapore
Drew Avery posted today's absolute jewel of a photo in our Flickr Pool late last month. We are grateful to him both for a wonderful image and for the opportunity to write a few lines about an exceedingly beautiful and interesting plant. (Original Image)
Nepenthaceae is a monotypic (i.e., single genus) family of about 120 non-woody vining species distributed throughout the tropical mainland and island regions of southeastern Asia. The genus name, which refers to an episode in Homer's Odyssey, was coined by Linnaeus in order to convey something of the plant's singular beauty and fascination: a mere sighting of the plant, the master botanist here seems to suggest, purges the viewer of all feelings grave and grim. Species and their preferred habitats vary greatly, with the latter ranging from hot and humid soils and climates through to the cool and at times frost-prone elevations of the montane tropics. Species are often referred to collectively as the "tropical pitcher plants" to differentiate them from the decidedly temperate and grounded Sarracenia, which share the fantastical vase-like modified leaves—the visual patterning, rich nectar reservoirs, and liquid-filled cavities of which attract, trap, and dissolve insects for sustenance. This carnivorous faculty is a somewhat common adaptation to living in soils deficient in nitrogen.
Nepenthes rafflesiana occurs in the wet, sandy lowlands of Borneo, Sumatra, peninsular Malaysia, and Singapore. The species, which was first discovered by Scottish botanist William Jack in 1819, in fact derives its name from one of Jack's traveling companions, the British imperialist and founder of present day Singapore, Stamford Raffles. The vines scramble up to 15 metres in height, and can grow at altitudes as high as 1200 metres. The species' unisexual flowers exhibit a wide range of colouration, and are often coated with a thin layer of indumentum (fine hairs). The plants are hardy to a variety of habitats and climate conditions, but prefer the high heat and humidity of their native tropical lowlands. With the help of a heated greenhouse, species can be grown in a cool temperate area like Vancouver, but enamored and ambitious gardeners should note that the family's carnivory does not extend to mammalian meat, which, according to experts, frequently causes unpleasant odours and lethal rot when fed to the plant.
Posted by Stephen Coughlin (summer student 2009) at July 31, 2009 7:00 AM
Comments
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Posted by: Leanne at July 31, 2009 7:34 AM
Nice to see a carnivorous plant represented on BPotD! Thanks for a lovely image and description.
Posted by: Ryan at July 31, 2009 7:39 AM
These flowers remind me a bit of Aristolochia sp. One hopes that, while not caring for mammalian flesh, they similarly don't have a taste for mammalian blood (i.e. Audrey II). I went blackberry picking last weekend and I can attest that that species certainly does.
Posted by: Jennifer Frazer at July 31, 2009 8:13 AM
How unique!
: O
Posted by: The Hollyberry Lady at July 31, 2009 8:37 AM
I enjoyed the side trip to read about Sir Stamford Raffles. Thank you for broadening our knowledge.
Posted by: Debby at July 31, 2009 9:04 AM
Video of this plant in action:
Posted by: Susan Campbell at July 31, 2009 9:32 AM
fyi: since you can't really tell from the photo above, the pitchers appear to dangle off the tips of the leaves on strings, and are actually modified leaves - not flowers. if you haven't seen how these grow in real life (the tendrils, the dangling pitchers, the inflorescences) definitely check out some other photos on Google! they are very neat plants.
Posted by: CB at July 31, 2009 9:36 AM
absolutely fascinating!!! thanks to the photographer for bringing it to our attention, thanks to Stephen for the write-up, thanks to Susan Campbell for the link!
Posted by: Viola at July 31, 2009 9:59 AM
I am curious - how big is this modified-leaf-looking-like-a-flower?
Posted by: b moro at July 31, 2009 11:48 AM
Love it drew,
Thanks for sharing.
K
Posted by: Katalina at July 31, 2009 11:53 AM
Quite wonderful, and thanks to Susan Campbell for the link.
Posted by: annie morgan at July 31, 2009 2:17 PM
N. rafflesiana pitchers can grow to around 15 cm high but there are some Nepenthes species that can double that, eg N.raja or the recently discovered N.attenboroughii.
Sundew
Posted by: Sundew at July 31, 2009 2:52 PM
life and plants and all the human
i wonder what it is leads one
on to great adventures does it not
fine photo and write up -thank you all
Posted by: elizabeth a airhart at July 31, 2009 6:09 PM
Very nice photograph
L.Rasingam
Posted by: L.Rasingam at July 31, 2009 8:37 PM
We enjoyed checking out the link. My sons say it looks a bit like a snake. "It's cool!"
Posted by: Judy at August 2, 2009 4:57 AM
In my opinion it looks a lot more like Nepenthes burbidgeae than Nepenthes rafflesiana. Nepenthes rafflesiana usually has much more pronounced wings. It's a very beautiful picture anyways.
Posted by: Al at August 20, 2009 10:33 PM
I finally saw a nepenthes plant a few days ago, here in Toronto in a flower/plant shop. I don't know which species it was. The "pitcher" part was about 6" long, a dark reddish-brown colour I think, with a rippled or serrated lip (unlike the smooth lip in this photo).
There was something very organ-like about the pitcher structure (as in stomach-type organ! ;o)
with its thick, firm, veined walls.
I'm not usually squeamish, but this plant... I dunno...
Still, a fascinating plant, and it was a real treat to see one in the flesh.
Posted by: Mary Ann, in Toronto at October 7, 2009 10:25 PM
that picture is not Nepenthes rafflesiana. its Nepenthes Burbidgeae.
Posted by: Nick H at December 27, 2009 5:15 PM
Please share your comments about the photograph(s) and accompanying write-up. Telling a story about the subject of the photograph(s) is also much appreciated! If you have a gardening question, the best place to ask is on the UBC Botanical Garden Forums. Thank you!
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Botany Photo of the Day and associated images by UBC Botanical Garden staff are licensed under a Creative Commons License. Images and text by non-UBC contributors are copyright the respective photographers / authors (but often have Creative Commons licenses if contributed via Flickr).
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Botany Photo of the Day is a project of the UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research, located in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada. UBC BGCPR is a department of the Faculty of Land and Food Systems within The University of British Columbia.
looks like a man in a big hat sitting in a boat. Very neat!