Differences between the pink and non pink raff variants

[caseyhoo]

Shawn Chen: : Ok I'm back. So hall we discuss the differences between the pink and non pink raff variants? So far, what I've heard/read are that there's a few differences between the two in terms of their cultural needs.

Khoon Chee Boon : those pink leaf normally very narrow and long ! the rest i dunno how to say.

Shawn Chen : I guess all of us would have a raff or two of the normal green leaved variant, and rafflesiana being very versatile, can grow and adapt rather quickly in various conditions.

As a rule of thumb, more light plus more humidity equates to larger pitchers whereas shade and low humidity (less than 50%）leads to poor or no pitcher formation

Li Wen : I think that is the general rule of thumb for all neps. But I remember reading that the giant forms of rafflesiana almost always grow in much shadier conditions than the regular form. Can anyone attest to this?

Shawn Chen : I must now mention that the pink leaved variant of N. rafflesiana is endemic to Borneo, which is interesting considering the widespread distribution of N. rafflesiana

Shawn Chen : I am tempted to believe that the giant forms are as what the books described, having a coppery sheen to the new leaves

Shawn Chen ‎: Khoon Chee Boon, there are squat pink raffs also. I'll post a pic in a while.

Shawn Chen: The amount of 'pinkness' or redness on the underside of the leaves vary also, from being only semi pink, or slightly pink when new then turning green when the leaves mature, to those with a really rich pink/purplish colour on the undersides and olive coloured leaves.

Shawn Chen : A friend once told me when I was still very very new (I still am!) that I should learn to see the variations not as distinct as ABC, but as a spectrum like the rainbow.

Shawn Chen : As with the variation in pitcher form and morphology that we get in the green, regular N. rafflesiana, the pinks do come with a full set of variables. var. alata, speckling (light or dark or even solid coloured) elongata, squat, typical,

Li Wen : I agree. Variation in a species is quite common in neps. The same as in mirabilis, veitchii, gracilis, albomarginata etc

Shawn Chen : I was pleasantly surprised when I found the almost black gracilis locally :P

Shawn Chen : With regards to the lighting requirements of the two, I was also told that the red undersides are an adaptation to the lack of light in nature, like how many begonia species have red undersides to fully capture and utilise the scarce sunlight, so there may actually be some truth to the giants prefering shade. I am growing all my raffs under full day sun under 30% shade net with no visible detriment to the pink/red variants

Li Wen : Interesting. Usually anthocyanins (red pigments) develop in brighter light (e.g. leaves of highland plants exposed to the full blast of the sun turn reddish, like a suntan). Or maybe there are different classes of red pigments between sun-loving plants and those that grow in shade. Not sure..

Shawn Chen : Same pigment found in the root tips of Phalaenopsis.