Alfindra Primaldhi · CC BY 2.0
About
A notable Sumatran species, *Nepenthes jamban* is characterized by its climbing habit and the distinct morphology of its pitchers. It is particularly recognized for its large upper pitchers and the presence of a unique, narrow lid with large red glands.
Field notes
Morphology
The plant is a climbing species with a cylindrical-angular stem up to 4 m long. Leaves are sessile, coriaceous, and may be narrowly obovate to elliptic, reaching 11 cm in length and 3.3 cm in width. Lower pitchers are cylindrical to narrowly infundibular in the lower third, rarely exceeding 5.8 cm in height and 4.4 cm in width, and feature a flattened peristome up to 8 mm wide. Upper pitchers are circular and widely infundibular, reaching 12 cm in height and 5.2 cm in width, with a horizontal, orbicular mouth. The lid (operculum) is narrowly obovate, up to 3.8 cm long and 1.3 cm wide for lower pitchers, and up to 4.8 cm long and 0.9 cm wide for upper pitchers. The stem is characteristically purplish red, while the lower pitchers range from yellowish orange to bright red, and the upper pitchers are generally bright yellow.
Distribution & habitat
Endemic to the Barisan Mountains on the western side of Sumatra, Indonesia. It is found at an altitudinal range of 1,800–2,100 m above sea level, growing in upper montane mossy forest amongst summit scrub vegetation.
Ecology
The upper pitchers are noted for trapping large prey items, such as wasps and crickets, and supporting large populations of pitcher infauna, particularly mosquito larvae. The plant produces thick, mucilaginous pitcher liquid, suggesting a combination of pitfall and flypaper trapping methods.
History & etymology
The species was discovered during field trips to Sumatra between 2004 and 2005, with the formal description published in 2006. The specific epithet jamban is the Indonesian word for "toilet," referring to the shape of the pitchers.
Habitat
- Altitude
- 1,800–2,100 m
- Altitude Class
- highland
- Native To
- Sumatra, Indonesia
Taxonomy
- Described
- 2006
- Authority
- Chi.C.Lee, Hernawati & Akhriadi
Cultivation
- Difficulty
- intermediate
- Temperature
- Day 18–25°C / Night 10–18°C
- Humidity
- 70–95%
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