Alfindra Primaldhi · CC BY 2.0
About
A widespread climbing species, *Nepenthes neoguineensis* is notable for its robust, panicle-like inflorescence and its ability to hybridize with other common species like *N. ampullaria* and *N. maxima*. The plant features distinct upper pitchers with bright red lids and a unique combination of leaf and inflorescence structures.
Field notes
Morphology
The plant is a climbing species with cylindrical to obtusely angular stems up to 6 mm thick. Leaves are lanceolate, reaching 25 cm in length and 4.5 cm in width, with three to four indistinct longitudinal veins. Upper pitchers are infundibulate, reaching 7 to 23 mm wide, and feature a pair of fringed wings (≤8 mm wide). The peristome is cylindrical or flattened and up to 1.5 mm wide. The male inflorescence is a long, cylindrical panicle, while the female inflorescence is a panicle-like raceme.
Distribution & habitat
Native to New Guinea and the nearby D'Entrecasteaux Islands, it is relatively widespread across the entire length of the island, occurring in both Papua New Guinea and the Indonesian portion (Western New Guinea). It has a wide altitudinal distribution, ranging from sea-level up to 900 m, occasionally reaching 1,400 m.
History & etymology
First collected in 1828 by Alexander Zipelius near Triton Bay, New Guinea. It was originally named *Nepenthes leptoptera* by Hermann Zippel in 1900, but was formally described by John Muirhead Macfarlane in 1911.
Conservation
Listed as Least Concern on the 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Habitat
- Altitude
- 0–1,400 m
- Altitude Class
- intermediate
- IUCN Status
- Least Concern
Taxonomy
- Described
- 1911
- Authority
- Macfarl.
Cultivation
- Difficulty
- intermediate
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