Wild mirabilis-Should I save it?
 

Hi everybody, I'm bringing up this important matter to all of you.

I was cycling with my dad during this evening along a hillside road when I caught sight of a nep flower inflorescence. Excited, I quickly climbed the hill and discovered that it was a nepenthes mirabilis! :smile: It was quite a nice plant with a stem about 1.5-2 metres long. The plant also appeared to be scrambling along the grassy terrain of the hill with pitchers forming under the shady protection of the grass. There was a basal growing next to it. The flower was a male (I'm guessing as I didn't get a good look!). Unfortunately, I didn't bring my camera along, so I shall be taking pics of the plant tomorrow.

Imagine the joy I was having as this was practically my first encounter of a wild Nepenthes! However my joy was short-lived when my dad told me that the road around this area would be extended and the plant will be removed during the process due to a housing construction that will commence soon. This would mean the plant would have only another year or two before it's demise! :crying: Thus it has led me to this dilemma: should I save it?

I'm thinking of leaving it to grow naturally until the time arrives when the road is to be extended. What do you think? :unsure:

Plus, it's quite a nice looking mirabilis. The peristome was around half a centimetre thick with a reddish ring at the outer side. All opinions will be most appreciated!

Re: Wild mirabilis-Should I save it?
 

Noooo never seen mirabilis before...IMHO i guess leave it there growing wild till the construction comes then save it...

Was there only 1 plant?

Re: Wild mirabilis-Should I save it?
 

I think you should save it.
although there is the proverb says "let nature find the way", that may apply when there is no human intervention deleterious habitat

Re: Wild mirabilis-Should I save it?
 

Re: Wild mirabilis-Should I save it?
 

Only one plant. There might be more, but I didn't notice. This mirabilis was very close to the road, at the top of the hill was a jungle which would not be disturbed. Tomorrow I'll be searching for other plants while planning how to save this poor mirabilis :crying:

Re: Wild mirabilis-Should I save it?
 

Good point, but the housing project that is being planned to be built hasn't even started yet. The land has not even been flattened yet. I'd give it about 6 months before saving the plant. And I WILL certainly look out for more neps along the way.

Re: Wild mirabilis-Should I save it?
 

I have an idea...
why dont you find all the neps and donate them to members here.....like me. . . I currently dont have a mirabilis at home....
i think the neps will find a better home . . .*biggrin2*

Re: Wild mirabilis-Should I save it?
 

Pictures are taken at last :smile:

Attachment 4675
The hillside road.

Attachment 4676
The hill where I saw the plant, notice the nep foliage?

Attachment 4677
The whole plant

Attachment 4678
Attachment 4679
Attachment 4680
Pitchers of the plant, note the nice reddish colour on the lower pitchers.

Attachment 4681
Inflorescence. Definitely a male.

Re: Wild mirabilis-Should I save it?
 

It is quite sad to see the surrounding in pic 1 were heavily removed and changed for development. It wont be long till this happen to the nep site. Definitely you should save it while you still can.

Re: Wild mirabilis-Should I save it?
 

by looking the the 1st picture, it wouldn't be long before the land will be developed. a developer wont lay a nice tar road leading to nowhere....:smile:

pick it up, do cuttings, collect the pollens and give it to members here in the forum that need to add in into their collection. i will do it eventhough it is not a very sought after species nor a best looking mirabilis form though....

Re: Wild mirabilis-Should I save it?
 

I understand how u feel to have encounter ur 1st will nep,because i've the same experience like u did.And that is how my PASSION n LOVE for nep grew....my 1st encounter of wild nep was at Sg.Buloh area,the year was 1998,i was just exploring the cleared land side for housing development after school.While i was walking,i saw a very peculiar plant that is growing alone next to a rock.It was strange for me as all the other plants(shrubs) are growing in cluster,but this plant is not an ordinary shrubs,upon closer inspection it is N.mirabilis...the next day,i unrooted the nep n plant it in my garden.But there's more,i found N.gracillis about 100m from the mirabilis site.To conclude,my 1st nep was N.mirabilis n N.gracilis (wild speciment) hehehe....

So,to answer ur Q,i'll definitely say YES,u should save the mirabilis....and look for more nep plants there coz i'm sure u'll find other neps that need to be save.

Re: Wild mirabilis-Should I save it?
 

Ok! I'll save the plant within these two weeks. First need to make space, buy a big pot and prepare media. Before that, I let the mirabilis flower finish first :smile:

How extensive do you think the root system will be?

Re: Wild mirabilis-Should I save it?
 

Judging by the size of the plant....You'll probably have a hard time uprooting it...Seems to be quite established already...Haven't got to see mirabilis in the wild yet :)

Off topic: Edward were you the one who gave me the mirabilis cuttings last time???

Re: Wild mirabilis-Should I save it?
 

Noo......I never actually ever had a mirabilis in my growlist before. Until now, which are the seedlings :laugh:

Re: Wild mirabilis-Should I save it?
 

edward......
remember to give me some cuttings of the mirabilis you saved........
i dont have a mirabilis in growlist too......*biggrin2*
i will be glad to adopt it....*biggrin2*
and try looking uphill......there might be more surprize waiting for you...hehe*biggrin2* but beware of snakes.....mind your safety first*biggrin2**biggrin2*

Re: Wild mirabilis-Should I save it?
 

conditioned wild plants rather difficult. because it surely will experience stress. better to move first. after visible growth.then you can cut it.

Re: Wild mirabilis-Should I save it?
 

I would love to, except there's two problems. One, I will surely snap the stem in two if I try to remove the plant immediately (it's not an easy hill to climb). Second, vehicles are not allowed to go through that road, only motorcycles and bicycles which means I have to carry the nep while riding the bike back.

Anyways, my house condition is very humid as right behind it is a hill. Oh yeah, that mirabilis also has a basal growing next to it.

Re: Wild mirabilis-Should I save it?
 

Root and make cuttings from the vines leave the basal to grow to a vine :)