Nepenthes hirsuta (/nɪˈpɛnθz hərˈsjtə/; from Latin: hirsūtus "hairy, bristly"), the hairy pitcher-plant,[3] is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Borneo. It is characterised by an indumentum of thick brown hairs, which is even present on the inflorescence. Pitchers are mostly green throughout with some having red blotches on the inside surfaces.[4]

Nepenthes hirsuta
Upper pitchers of N. hirsuta. Bako National Park, Borneo.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Nepenthaceae
Genus: Nepenthes
Species:
N. hirsuta
Binomial name
Nepenthes hirsuta
Hook.f. (1873)[2]
Synonyms
  • Nepenthes leptochila
    Danser (1928)

N. hirsuta grows at an elevation of 200–1100 m.[5] It is present in a wide range of habitats, including kerangas forest, mossy banks in lower montane forest, open areas, and disturbed vegetation on lower ridges. It grows mostly on sandstone substrates.[4]

Taxonomy

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N. hirsuta is most closely related to N. hispida and N. macrovulgaris. Botanists Matthew Jebb and Martin Cheek suggest that N. hirsuta is also related to N. philippinensis, a species endemic to Palawan in the Philippines.[6][7]

Morphological differences between N. macrovulgaris, N. hirsuta and N. hispida (Steiner, 2002 after Clarke, 1997)
N. macrovulgaris N. hirsuta N. hispida
leaves charteous ≤30 cm, oblong to linear leaves coriaceous ≤20 cm, canaliculate-spathulate or obovate leaves coriaceous sessile ≤28 cm, oblanceolate-oblongate
apex acute to obtuse apex acute or roundish apex acuminate-obtuse, often unequal
base attenuate into a winged petiole, wings wider towards the base, clasping stem for about half its diameter, not decurrent base attenuate, forming laterally flattened, semi-amplexicaul sheath base attenuate, amplexicaul and often decurrent onto the internode
longitudinal veins: 2-3 on each side longitudinal veins not prominent longitudinal veins: 3 on each side
adult pitchers and stem glabrous, young pitchers with short, thin hairs stem densely covered with long brown hairs, not as bristle-like as those of N. hispida stem very densely covered with bristle-like purple-grey hairs

In his Carnivorous Plant Database, taxonomist Jan Schlauer treats N. hispida as a heterotypic synonym of N. hirsuta.[8]

Infraspecific taxa

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Natural hybrids

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The following natural hybrids involving N. hirsuta have been recorded.

References

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  1. ^ Clarke, C.M. (2018). "Nepenthes hirsuta". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T39665A143960697. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T39665A143960697.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ (in Latin) Hooker, J.D. 1873. Ordo CLXXV bis. Nepenthaceæ. In: A. de Candolle Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis 17: 90–105.
  3. ^ Phillipps, A. & A. Lamb 1996. Pitcher-Plants of Borneo. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu.
  4. ^ a b c d Clarke, C.M. 1997. Nepenthes of Borneo. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu.
  5. ^ a b McPherson, S.R. 2009. Pitcher Plants of the Old World. 2 volumes. Redfern Natural History Productions, Poole.
  6. ^ Cheek, M.R. & M.H.P. Jebb 1999. Nepenthes (Nepenthaceae) in Palawan, Philippines. Kew Bulletin 54(4): 887–895. doi:10.2307/4111166
  7. ^ Schlauer, J. 2000. "Literature Reviews" (PDF). Carnivorous Plant Newsletter 29(2): 53.
  8. ^ Schlauer, J. N.d. Nepenthes hirsuta Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine. Carnivorous Plant Database.
  9. ^ a b Macfarlane, J.M. 1908. Nepenthaceae. In: A. Engler. Das Pflanzenreich IV, III, Heft 36: 1–91.
  10. ^ Smith, W.G. 1882. New garden plants. Nepenthes hirsuta var. glabrescens. The Gardeners' Chronicle, new series, 17(430): 398–399.
  11. ^ Phillipps, A., A. Lamb & C.C. Lee 2008. Pitcher Plants of Borneo. Second Edition. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu.

Further reading

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