Nepenthes of Gunung Tahan
 

Hi All,

Some outdoor friends had asked me to identify the nepenthes they had shot. The photos were taken at various peaks around Gunung Tahan. These places, I was told, can be reached after taking 4 wheel drives from Cameron Highland and of course ......... great deal of hiking. Definitely not recommended for an old softie like me.


Here we have red variations of what we currently called N. gracillima, as described in Dr Charles Clarke books.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...racilima01.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...maGTahan01.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...maGTahan03.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...maGTahan05.jpg


These creamy coloured variations N. gracillima, however, will be called N. alba in Stewart McPherson's new book - "Pitcher Plants of the Old World Volume Two".

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...maGTahan16.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...maGTahan10.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...maGTahan11.jpg


Note that both the red and cream coloured N. gracillima are very small stature plants, as can be seen in these two habitat photos. Also, N. gracillima are high altitude plants as they grow amongst stunned vegetation.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...n13habitat.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...n15habitat.jpg


Now, these two darked coloured pitchers is what I think Stewart McPherson called the true N. gracillima.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...ineaGTahan.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...eaGTahan04.jpg


Since the book is not available yet, you can check photos of his N. alba and N. gracillima here: http://www.redfernnaturalhistory.com...erms=nepenthes


Choong

Re: Nepenthes of Gunung Tahan
 

Thanks loads for posting these shots and your notes. Interesting to see the variation in the gracillima! That open habitat was unexpected as well, guess the cooler temps make it possible.

Re: Nepenthes of Gunung Tahan
 

Cameron Highlands got gracillima meh? I ve not seen one before.

How high is the altitude?

Re: Nepenthes of Gunung Tahan
 

Simply stunning !! Wanted to try growing it in LL condition but not sure will be acceptable for it? Choong, do you the elevation where the pics were taken?

Re: Nepenthes of Gunung Tahan
 

Wow!! Gorgeous plants.

Re: Nepenthes of Gunung Tahan
 

Cpnut,

Gunumg Tahan at the highest point is 2,187 m. Since the plants are found growing above the TREE-LINE, I would guess the elevation to be above 1800m.

So, if I were you, I would contemplate growing it unless you can generate night temperature of 15°C or less.

Choong

Re: Nepenthes of Gunung Tahan
 

The reasons alot of you have not heard or seen the plant is because you need to do alot of hiking to get there. For those who want to see the plant in situ, I got this info from Wikipedia:

"All climbers can reach the peak from the most popular trails - the Kuala Tahan classic trail. This return trail typically takes seven days. Climbers have to trek across undulating ridges and make several river crossings before finally reaching the foot of the mountain to make the final ascent.

Climbers without adequate physical fitness or training are not advised to attempt Gunung Tahan.

The other two trails are Merapoh (Sungai Relau) and via Kelantan. An average climber on these trails would take five days."

Good Luck.

Choong

Re: Nepenthes of Gunung Tahan
 

Interesting, thanks for sharing! love those varieties of plants

Cheeers

Re: Nepenthes of Gunung Tahan
 

Thanks Choong for sharing these pictures. It is always refreshing to see neps in the wild and it is an added bonus when we can see something rare, something that is not easy to find or reach.

It's interesting to see them grwoing so low to the ground among low grases in a wide open field.

Re: Nepenthes of Gunung Tahan
 

Thanks for your advice Choong, as of now, I don't think I'm ready to tackle a "true" higlander yet... :blush:

May be you can try?? Fauzi just got a shipment of seed grown gracilima from BE.

Re: Nepenthes of Gunung Tahan
 

Ahhh alwats enjoyed looking at wild neps.........Just a suggestion...(kinda a selfish one) I was thinking if the forum could have an event to find wild neps?? Other than the penang hill thing.


Ken

Re: Nepenthes of Gunung Tahan
 

For more technical discussion on gracillima and alba, checkout similar thread in Carnivorous Plants in the tropics: http://pitcherplants.proboards34.com...ay&thread=6816

Looks very likely we will have a new species in N. alba and a redefinition of N. gracillima.

Choong

Re: Nepenthes of Gunung Tahan
 

Thanks for sharing Choong. A wonderful and interesting place worth visiting.

Re: Nepenthes of Gunung Tahan
 

Choong, Nice photos, thanks for sharing.

Ken, Wild neps expedition takes time if money is not the proble. What is lacking for most of us is time due to mainly work and family commitment.

Having a trip arrange to go to Tahan, for example, will easily take us 7 days. The run up to the trip will include lots of training. However, I have a couple of friends, in their 50s and two in their 60s, managed to hike up with some school kids. So everything is possible, main concern is time. 1. Time to make the trip and 2. time when everyone can make it together.

If someone would take the initiative, I am keen.

Re: Nepenthes of Gunung Tahan
 

hi all,

I've taken some pictures from C.H.

It looks similar like what Chong has posted too.

Attachment 824

Attachment 825

Attachment 826

Re: Nepenthes of Gunung Tahan
 

Thanks for sharing Simon. The ones that you showed seems to be growing among bushes.

Re: Nepenthes of Gunung Tahan
 

Yeah it looks pretty though Simon.

Re: Nepenthes of Gunung Tahan
 

hi cpnut,
Yes, though to take from good angle. :thumbdown:

And, the pix was taken at Gunung irau 1st peak around 2000m.


aside to ali,
Hope can take more interesting wild nepenthes pixs to share with all of u, the next trip to CH. :smile:

Re: Nepenthes of Gunung Tahan
 

Looks like Macfarlaneii

Re: Nepenthes of Gunung Tahan
 

Did you see any flowers in the area? It looks like N. Alba if that is a species.

Re: Nepenthes of Gunung Tahan
 

Wow....very nice pictures!

Cheers