Shawn Mayes · CC BY-SA 3.0
About
A notable climbing species, *Nepenthes mikei* is characterized by its black mottled lower and upper pitchers, which are relatively small compared to some congeners. It is an endemic plant found in the high montane forests of Sumatra.
Field notes
Morphology
The plant is a climbing vine growing up to 7 meters, with cylindrical to angular internodes up to 9 cm. Leaves are sessile, linear, and coriaceous, measuring up to 10 cm by 2 cm. Lower pitchers are ovate in the basal third, becoming cylindrical above, reaching up to 12 cm high by 3 cm wide. They feature a well-developed waxy zone, a sub-cylindrical peristome up to 4 mm wide with ribs, and an ovate operculum up to 3 cm by 2.5 cm. Upper pitchers are smaller, reaching 8 cm high by 2 cm wide, and are always reduced to ribs. The species produces a racemose inflorescence up to 18 cm long.
Distribution & habitat
Endemic to Sumatra, Indonesia, found on Mount Pangulubao in North Sumatra and Mount Bandahara in Aceh, at altitudes ranging from 1100 to 2800 m.
History & etymology
The specific epithet mikei honors Mike Hopkins, who co-discovered the species. It was first discovered on Mount Pangulubao in September 1989 by Bruce Salmon, Mike Hopkins, and Ricky Maulder. It was formally described by Salmon and Maulder in 1995.
Conservation
Vulnerable
Habitat
- Altitude
- 1,100–2,800 m
- Altitude Class
- highland
- Native To
- Sumatra
- IUCN Status
- Vulnerable
Taxonomy
- Described
- 1995
- Authority
- B.R.Salmon & Maulder
Cultivation
- Difficulty
- intermediate
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