Nepenthes truncata
Species of pitcher plant from the Philippines
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nepenthes truncata (/nɪˈpɛnθiːz trʌŋˈkɑːtə/; from Latin truncatus "terminating abruptly") is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to the Philippines. It is known from the islands of Dinagat, Leyte, and Mindanao.[3] The species grows at an elevation of 0–1,500 m above sea level.[4] Nepenthes truncata is characterised by its heart-shaped (truncate) leaves and very large pitchers, which can reach up to 40 cm in height.
| Nepenthes truncata | |
|---|---|
| |
| A pitcher of N. truncata found in northern Mindanao at an elevation of 230 m | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Nepenthaceae |
| Genus: | Nepenthes |
| Species: | N. truncata |
| Binomial name | |
| Nepenthes truncata | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Nepenthes robcantleyi was once considered a dark, highland form of this species.[5][6]
Carnivory
On September 29, 2006, at the Botanical Gardens in Lyon, France, a Nepenthes truncata was photographed containing the decomposing corpse of a mouse. This incident is the first record of a mammal being successfully trapped in the pitchers of N. truncata indoors. Both N. rajah [7] and N. rafflesiana[8] are known to occasionally catch small mammals in the wild. Although it is possible for Nepenthes truncata to trap mice, the calcium heavy bones will not be digested.[citation needed]
A recently opened pitcher with typical colouration from the Pantaron Range, Mindanao
A pitcher with strongly developed peristome colouration, typical of older pitchers, Pantaron Range, Mindanao
Natural hybrids
- N. alata × N. truncata [=N. × truncalata][9]
- N. mindanaoensis × N. truncata[4]
- ? N. petiolata × N. truncata[10][11]
