Nepenthes extincta Jebb & Cheek, 2013

Cheek, Martin & Jebb, Matthew, 2013, Recircumscription of the Nepenthes alata group (Caryophyllales: Nepenthaceae), in the Philippines, with four new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 69, pp. 1-23 : 14-16

Nepenthes extincta Jebb & Cheek sp. nov.

urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77134488-1

Fig. 3

Diagnosis

Differs from N. mindanaoensis Sh.Kurata in the pitchers lacking fringed wings (versus with fringed wings), the lid base truncate (not cordate), the indumentum of the midrib of dense minute grey-white stellate hairs, (not of sparse black bristle-like hairs).

Etymology

Nepenthes extincta sp. nov. is named to signify that this species may already be extinct globally.

Type

PHILIPPINES. Mindanao Island “Red Hills (= 400 m alt.), SE of Claver, near the northeastern coast of the Mindanao Island. Boundary of the Surigao del Sur and Surigao del Norte ” 8 Aug. 1978, Fumihiro Konta 12365 (holotype BISH!).

Description

Terrestrial shrub, probably about 1 m tall. Leaves elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate, 13–17 × 5.5–8 cm, thickly leathery, glossy above, matt mid brown below; apex obtuse to acute, not peltate; base rounded to obtuse, not decurrent; longitudinal nerves arising from base of blade, where 5–6 pairs arise on each side of the midrib, at blade midpoint 4–5 pairs occur in the outer third of the blade; pennate nerves arising at ca. 45° from the midrib, irregularly branching, ends traversing the inner longitudinal nerves; all nerves most conspicuous on upper surface; midrib deeply depressed on upper surface, lacking hairs, highly exserted on lower surface and densely (80–90% cover) grey-white stellate hairy, the hairs gathering dirt, hairs sessile, arms 5–8, 0.25–0.5 mm diam., fine, acute, appressed to surface; lower surface of blade sparsely hairy, densest towards midrib, ca. 15% cover, decreasing at margin to 5–10%, cover, hairs mainly stellate, as midrib, mixed with sparser erect, bristle-like hairs 1–2 mm long, of several types (1) with short branches arising along the length of the main axis; (2) with 2–6 ± equal erect arms; (3) with a single long erect bristle arising from a stellate hair, the “dagger-hair” of Kurata (2003) more rarely (4) hairs with 2–3 erect, equal arms from the base; depressed-globose sessile red-black glands 0.03 mm diam., raised, dense, conspicuous; upper surface of blade with stellate hairs, as lower surface, scattered along the margins of the midrib. Petiole 4.5 × 0.5–0.7cm, appearing cylindric due to the two involute wings, indumentum of appressed, stellate, fine 5–8-armed hairs, ca. 20% cover. Lower and upper pitchers unknown, possibly not produced. Intermediate pitchers (tendrils not coiled, fringed wings absent) ovoid-cylindric, 18–24 × 5.9–8.2 cm, widest in the basal half, narrowing gradually to the cylindric upper half (4.8–5.5 cm wide), not constricted or waisted; outer surface 10–20% covered in minute, white, 2–4-armed, bushy-stellate hairs 0.12–0.15 mm wide and high, the arms stout and raised, 10–15 hairs per mm 2, mixed with sparser black depressed-globose sessile glands 0.07 mm diam., 4–5 per mm 2, long simple and bristle-like hairs absent; fringed wings absent, reduced to ridges; mouth ovate 7–8 × 4.5–5.5 cm, oblique, concave, column weakly defined ca. 1.5 × 0.7 cm; peristome subcylindric, 7–8 mm wide, widest at sides, outer edge lobed, lobes 1–3 per side, 10–12 mm wide, inner side inconspicuously toothed, teeth 0.25 mm long; ridges 4 per mm, 0.1 mm high. Lid ovate 5.2–6.5 × 4–5.2 cm, apex rounded, base truncate, lower surface with a basal ridge ca. 8 mm long, 1–2 mm high, bearing a pronounced straight convex appendage 4 × 2.5–5 mm; nectar glands of two distinct size classes (1) smaller, elliptic or orbicular, frequent, bordered glands 0.3–0.6(–0.7) × 0.25 mm, the border ca. 0.1 mm wide, glossy pale brown, dense, (1(–2) per mm 2) along the midline these are longitudinally elliptic, elsewhere with their short axis orientated towards the base of the lid; the appendage completely covered in smaller type nectar glands; (2) larger glands elliptic to orbicular, (1–)1.25–2 × 1.25 mm, the lumina often invaginated by a projection of the border, border 0.2 mm thick, 4–15 on each side of the lid, scattered around the margin and towards the apex of the midline; sessile, depressed-globose, red glands, 0.05 mm in diam., 1–2 per mm 2; marginal 0.5–1 mm of lower surface with minute branched hairs 0.1 × 0.1 mm; upper surface with indumentum as outer pitcher. Spur inserted 5–6 mm below junction of lid with peristome, cylindric 8–14 × 1–1.2 mm, apex shortly bifid, surface covered in minute appressed, matted, white-grey stellate hairs. Male and female inflorescences and infructescence unknown.

Distribution & habitat

Philippines, Mindanao, Surigao del Sur. Open scrub habitats on ultramafic substrate with N. merrilliana Macfarl. ( Macfarlane 1911) and N. graciliflora Elmer ( Elmer 1912) . Elevation: ca. 400 m.

Conservation

Nepenthes exincta sp. nov. is here assessed as Critically Endangered under Criterion D of IUCN (2012) since only a single individual has ever been recorded (the type specimen collected in 1978). The locality data given corresponds with the large area of ultramafic known as ‘Red Mountain’ SE of Claver in NE Mindanao. In fact, Red Mountain is a series of low red hills. The NE Mindanao, probably due to its large areas of ultramafic substrate, supports several narrowly endemic and often spectacular Nepenthes species, several of which are known from single locations. For this reason, it has been intensively visited in recent decades by devotees of the genus. Despite this, no additional collections or observations of this taxon have come to light in the last 25 years and it is possible that it is restricted to the Red Mountain, and is now extinct, since this happens to be the largest nickel mining site in the world’s second largest nickel producing country ( Gallares 2013). The Foundation for the Philippine Environment ( Pacudan 2013) recently reported on the environmental damage due to extensive and massive nickel mining “as far as your eyes can see.”, “The scene of endless open pit mining at the red mountain made our heart bleed.” ( Pacudan 2013). The biggest mining companies operating at the Red Mountain are Taganito Mining Corporation, Platinum Group Metals Corporation (PGMC), Taganito HPAL Nickel Corporation, Adnama Mining Resources Inc. (AMRI) and Zhen Shou Mining ( Almeda 2012). It is much to be hoped that this species is refound, and not proved to be extinct, and if found, that it can be protected and monitored.

Remarks

Nepenthes extincta sp. nov. is most likely to be confused with N. mindanaoensis and they may share a common origin. Both species occur on open ultramafic substrates in NE Mindanao, both have robust, ovoid-cylindric pitchers arising from thickly leathery blades in which the longitudinal nerves arise from the base of the blade. In both species the petiole has involute wings, so appear cylindric, and the blade is not decurrent to the petiole – unusual features in the N. alata group. The two can be distinguished using the characters in Table 3 . The two species are not sympatric so far as is known.

Fumihiro Konta, collector of the only known material of this species, has not been traced by us. An internet search shows that he has published on the plants of S China and Thailand, as well as Japan, covering specialisms such as Asclepiadaceae, Ferns and Vegetation mapping. “A list of the Ferns and Flowering Plants of Mt Fuji, 1984” is his most referenced work. Since “Environmental Impact Studies” are listed among his interests, it may have been in that context that he collected the type specimen recorded here.

Figures

Fig. 3. Nepenthes extincta sp. nov. A. Habit, showing intermediate pitcher. B. Indumentum, lower surface of blade (midrib on left). C. Branched bristle hairs (detail from lower surface of blade). D. Stellate hairs and sessile glands (detail from lower surface of blade). E. Branched erect hairs (detail from lower surface of blade). F. Stellate hairs, with appressed arms, leaf-blade lower surface, near midrib. G. Upper part of intermediate pitcher, lid posture as in life. H. Lower surface of upper pitcher lid. I. Basal lid appendage and spur. J. Basal lid appendage and ridge, side view. K-M. Details of nectar glands, lower lid surface. N. Indumentum, outer surface of pitcher. O. Peristome, view from inside pitcher showing minute teeth and holes at edge. P. Peristome, view from above. Q. Transverse section of peristome (outer surface on right). A–F & H–Q from Konta 12365, G from sketch by M. Cheek. Scale bars: double, graduated = 5 cm; single = 1 mm; single graduated = 2 or 3 mm as indicated. All drawn by Andrew Brown.