Robert Tan Hung Huat · CC BY-SA 3.0
About
A notable climbing species, *Nepenthes benstonei* is characterized by its large, robust pitchers and distinctive, broad, amplexicaul leaf bases. It is endemic to Peninsular Malaysia and is known for its impressive climbing habit, with stems reaching lengths of up to 10 meters.
Field notes
Morphology
The plant is a climbing species with stems that can reach 10 m in length and up to 0.6 cm in diameter. Leaves are coriaceous and sessile to sub-petiolate, with a lamina that is broadly linear-lanceolate, reaching 60 cm in length and 9 cm in width. The base forms a broad, amplexicaul sheath with decurrent margins. Rosette and lower pitchers are ovoid to cylindrical, reaching 20 cm in height and 5 cm in width, featuring a pronounced hip and a pair of fringed wings (≤4 mm wide).
Distribution & habitat
Endemic to Peninsular Malaysia, growing at elevations ranging from 150 to 1350 m above sea level.
History & etymology
The specific epithet benstonei honors botanist Benjamin Clemens Stone, who was one of the first to collect the species. It was formally described as *N. benstonei* in 1999 by Charles Clarke. Earlier specimens collected by Henry Nicholas Ridley in 1911 were initially misidentified as *N. singalana* and later debated between *N. alata* and *N. gracillima*.
Habitat
- Altitude
- 150–1,350 m
- Altitude Class
- intermediate
- Native To
- Malaysia
- IUCN Status
- Data Deficient
Taxonomy
- Described
- 1999
- Authority
- C.Clarke
Cultivation
- Difficulty
- intermediate
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