Nepenthes merrilliana
Tropical pitcher plant endemic to the Philippines
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nepenthes merrilliana (/nɪˈpɛnθiːz mɛˌrɪliˈɑːnə/; after Elmer Drew Merrill) is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to the Philippines. It produces some of the largest pitchers in the genus, rivalling those of N. rajah.[7]
| Nepenthes merrilliana | |
|---|---|
| |
 | |
| A lower (top) and upper pitcher of N. merrilliana from Dinagat | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Nepenthaceae |
| Genus: | Nepenthes |
| Species: | N. merrilliana |
| Binomial name | |
| Nepenthes merrilliana | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
The species is native to northern and central Mindanao as well as neighbouring Dinagat[7] and Samar.[8] Its presence in southern Mindanao is uncertain.[7] It inhabits coastal forest areas on steep slopes[1] at elevations of 0–1,100 m above sea level.[9]
Nepenthes surigaoensis is closely related to N. merrilliana and was for a long time considered a heterotypic synonym of this species.[10] Nepenthes samar is another closely allied species.[11]
A young plant with lower pitchers growing in an exposed site
A small lower pitcher from Dinagat
Natural hybrids
- N. alata × N. merrilliana [=N. × merrilliata][8][12]
- ? (N. alata × N. merrilliana) × N. mirabilis [=N. × tsangoya]
- N. bellii × N. merrilliana[7]
- N. merrilliana × N. mindanaoensis[7]
- N. merrilliana × N. mirabilis[7]
