Nepenthes fusca

Robinson, Alastair S., Golos, Michal R., Barer, Marc, Sano, Yosuke, Forgie, Jennifer J., Garrido, Diego, Gorman, Chandler N., Luick, Adi O., Mcintosh, Nick W. R., Mcpherson, Stewart R., Palena, Gregory J., Pančo, Ivan, Quinn, Brian D. & Shea, Jeff, 2019, Revisions in Nepenthes following explorations of the Kemul Massif and the surrounding region in north-central Kalimantan, Borneo, Phytotaxa 392 (2), pp. 97-126 : 103

Observations of Nepenthes fusca

Plants matching the Nepenthes fusca type materials (at BO, K, and L), as well as the description and illustration provided by Danser (1928), were first located at 1400 m a.s.l. on a steeply ascending ridge. Whilst clearly related to the taxa currently included within N. fusca s.lat., it was apparent that the lids of the type N. fusca are flat, more or less ovate and usually with only a basal keel, and are larger than the pitcher opening, becoming longer in the upper pitchers but not showing pronounced marginal revolution. Taking into account this and other morphological and ecological differences ( Table 1), N. fusca s.lat. clearly represents a species complex from which we can separate two well characterised taxa whose ranges are centred on Sarawak and Sabah. N. fusca s.lat. ‘ Sarawak form’ is here proposed as N. dactylifera spec. nov., while the name N. zakriana is reinstated from synonymy for the Sabah taxon with an emended description (see Taxonomy). A comparison of the upper pitchers of each species is provided ( Fig. 3 ) and their approximate ranges in Borneo indicated ( Fig. 4 ).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Comparison of the upper pitchers of (A) Nepenthes fusca, (B) N. dactylifera (two pitchers) and (C) N. zakriana. Illustrated by M. Barer.

FIGURE 4. Distribution of Nepenthes dactylifera, N. fusca and N. zakriana in Borneo based on accessions held at BO, K, L and SAR herbaria, supplemented by field observations. Drawn by A.S. Robinson.