n. ventricosa

[nbatp]

Originally Posted by rsivertsen

Most "N. ventricosa" plants in cultivation are actually a hybrid population, involving N. alata, and possibly another species. They are very complex back-crosses, with some plants resembling the traits of one species or another. It seems to be a lowland plant as well, growing best in warmer conditions and not being able to withstand a mild frost. Generally, they have spathulate leaves less than 6 inches in length, which are relatively soft. The plants can be terrestrial, or nearly so.

The true species, N. ventricosa is at least twice the size of these other plants, and has long firm lanceolate leaves, well over 8 inches in length, also very stiff, with large pitchers about a foot long, and extremely ventricose, and nearly woody, like N. lowii. According to John Turnbull, it was found growing very high up in some trees, a true epiphyte, and the biggest Nepenthes in Luzon, which grows best in cooler conditions, and is very slow, and does poorly in warm, lowland conditions.

The peristome is also unique, and doesn't ride up under the lid.


When it rests, the peristome is nearly parallel to the ground from back to front, with seveal "points" from the wide peristome. I know of only one clone in cultivation, which goes by the name "porcelain" form, perhaps the form known as "alba" may be the same thing, not sure yet. - Rich

Wow! So nice ventricosa!

[rsivertsen]

Again, most if not all of the plants labeled as "N. ventricosa" are not really the true species, but this complex hybrid population, and I'm not even entirely sure if it involves N. ventricosa, or N. burkei along with another species, most likely N. alata, which does occur in sympatric populations with this plant.

The main points are that the true species N. ventricosa is a highland plant, while these others are not true highlanders and they cannot tollerate any mild frost, and is also at least twice as large, wider peristome, which is very flat, and nearly horizontal, unlike the oblique angles that the other plants have, and is also quite ventricose, even in the upper pitchers, very much like N. lowii, and also very woody, and stiff as well. As with most complex hybrid populations, there will be individual plants that resemble more or less one of the other species in some of its traits. - Rich