How to identify nepenthes species

[powersensor]

Hello CP experts, are there any tutorial for CP newbie to learn how to identify the species of a nepenthes?

[David]

A good place to start would be to read up on Charles Clark's books on Nepenthes. Dr. Charles Clarke is a botanist and taxanomist specielising in Nepenthes. He has written numerous books on Nepenthes. If you need to get just one book, I would suggest "Nepenthes of Sumatra and Peninsula Malaysia". He explains in detail how to identify each species found in these region.

I got mine from MPH Bookstore in 1-Utama in KL. I'm not sure if you have MPH in Penang. You could ask around and see or check with picesilim or Athene. They might know where to get it in Penang.

For those species that have distinctive differences in their pitchers and leaf structure, you will be able to identify them after a while as you look at more pictures and as you grow them.

[Aliamyz]

Thinking of it.At first, i don't even know nepenthes names.After reading tones of websites,i can identify each nepenthes species or hybrids.

[piscesilim]

I get the book from Penang Butterfly Farm.

[Aliamyz]

Can anyone get a book for me!

[jeff1u]

Interesting topic
Personal sharing:
I remembered that I asked the same question to Cindy.

She said you will remember it as you grow some nep from the start.

For me, my first nep is Miranda. Then I read out about Miranda, after that I came across Maxima look like Miranda. From there, I learned Miranda is (Maxima x Northiana) x maxima Hybrid. Next I search for Northiana. Wow! nice picture and impressive Nep.

List of Nep in my memory (1st input)
- Miranda (First nep)
- Maxima (No comment, quite common)
- Northiana (Impressive and Huge Nep)

From there, I hooked onto Nep. I check through All the neps pictures to see which I like and hope to purchase it.
Now I can remember a few names that time while I looked through the gallery. My list started to grow and include why I like it.

List of Nep in my memory (2nd input)
- Hamata (Toothy and make me dream of having it ALL the times)
- Villosa (Fierce looking)
- Rajah (Giant Cap and Mouth)
- Truncata (BEST my favourite GIANT nep)
- Veitchii (Impressive flare peristome)
- Lowii (One and only unqiue pitcher)
- Ventricosa (Sexy shape of pitcher)
- Rafflesiana (make me remember Sir Raffles)
- Bical (Vampire fanged nep, Cool!)
- Amp (Cute nep will basal)
- Gracilis (weeds but basal).

next time before I buy any, I started to read out their information. I found out they are divided into highland and lowland. So I divided them myself which one I can grow and which is not.

HL - Hamata, Villosa, Rajah, Truncata, Veitchii, Lowii, Ventricosa, Maxima
LL - Rafflesiana, Bical, Amp, Gracilis, Northiana

I got disappointed because I really LOVE those HL neps. So I researched which HL can grow in LL condition.

Hmmmm...
So new list is out.

HL - Hamata, Villosa, Rajah, Lowii,
½L- Truncata, Veitchii, Ventricosa, Maxima
LL - Rafflesiana, Bical, Amp, Gracilis, Northiana

Next thing I will look out how to get those.
I looked through website and purchased them, Killed alot of them.
I came across EP website, they created alot of interesting hybrids!

So from hybrid, I selected those I love with a few unknown/new names and do some research. New names add on and they are HL or LL

List of Nep in my memory (3rd input)
- Sibuyanensis (Fat Pig looking pitcher) HL
- Campanulata (Mini and Cute) LL
- Trusmadiensis (my favourite and create the BEST hybrid I always want) HL
- Thorelii (Produce Red and finer hybrid pitcher) LL
others.... so on and so fore

Now get back to the topic conclusion.
- Research and Read as you Grow and Go along.

[jeff1u]

Oh ya this is a good website you may want to start to make yourself drool and make your mind go crazy.
http://www.nepenthesaroundthehouse.com/photos.htm

Get yourself alot of hybrids.
and get yourself poison even more or a road of NO return
http://www.exoticaplants.com.au/

Get yourself neps and interesting info
http://www.borneoexotics.com/

Not enough?
Nep species : http://www.humboldt.edu/~rrz7001/Nepenthes.html
Nep hybrids : http://www.humboldt.edu/~rrz7001/Nep_hybrids.html