Gweltaz · CC BY-SA 2.0
About
Nepenthes *mirabilis* is a highly widespread species of carnivorous plant belonging to the Nepenthaceae family. It is commonly known as the common swamp pitcher-plant or tropical pitcher plant. It is noted for its great variability across its extensive range.
Field notes
Morphology
The species exhibits great variability in terms of pitcher morphology and color across its range. While specific dimensions are not provided, the pitchers are known to harbor complex communities of bacteria and various infaunal organisms. One notable variety, *N. mirabilis var. echinostoma*, possesses an extremely wide peristome.
Distribution & habitat
With the widest distribution of any *Nepenthes* species, it spans continental Southeast Asia and all major islands of the Malay Archipelago. Its range is vast, covering areas from China (Guangdong Province, Hainan, Hong Kong, and Macau) in the north to Australia in the south. Specific countries include Borneo, Sumatra, Java, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
Ecology
The pitchers are known to harbor a complex community of bacteria and various infaunal organisms, including mites and mosquitoes. The microecosystems within the pitchers are dominated by mosquito larvae, midges, and nematodes. Furthermore, the pitchers can host aquatic fungi and have been observed to harbor tree frogs, which feed on insects caught by the traps.
History & etymology
The species name *mirabilis* comes from the Latin word for 'wonderful.' It is closely related to *N. rowaniae*, *N. tenax*, and *N. parvula*, the only three *Nepenthes* species endemic to Australia. The species has the greatest number of known natural hybrids of any species in the genus.
Conservation
The conservation status of *N. mirabilis* is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. In Hong Kong, it is a protected species under Forestry Regulations Cap. 96A.
Habitat
- Altitude
- 0–1,500 m
- Altitude Class
- intermediate
- Native To
- Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines, China, Australia
- IUCN Status
- Least Concern
Taxonomy
- Described
- 1869
- Authority
- (Lour.) Druce
Cultivation
- Difficulty
- easy
- Temperature
- Day 28–35°C / Night 20–28°C
- Humidity
- 65–90%
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