Alfindra Primaldhi · CC BY 3.0
About
A striking tropical species, *Nepenthes naga* is notable for its distinctive pitcher lid, which features a unique forked sub-apical appendage and an undulate margin. The specific epithet 'naga' means 'dragon' in Indonesian, referencing both the large size of the pitchers and the unique lid appendage.
Field notes
Morphology
The plant is a climbing species growing up to 5 m high. Rosette and lower pitchers are large, reaching 33.5 cm high by 6.8 cm wide, featuring a greatly expanded peristome up to 5.8 cm wide. The lid is ovate, up to 8.5 cm long by 7.2 cm wide, and bears two prominent appendages on its underside: a hooked basal crest and a triangular, dichotomous appendage up to 1.4 cm long. Upper pitchers are up to 24.3 cm high by 4.5 cm wide, with a much narrower peristome (up to 1 cm wide).
Distribution & habitat
Endemic to the Barisan Mountains of Sumatra, found at an altitudinal range of 1,500–2,000 m above sea level.
History & etymology
First collected by Indonesian hobbyists between March and July 2007. The species was formally described by Pitra Akhriadi, Hernawati, Alfindra Primaldhi and Muhammad Hambali in 2009.
Conservation
The species is threatened by plantations of the Pará rubber tree at the foot of its habitat and by population decline due to collection by plant collectors.
Habitat
- Altitude
- 1,500–2,000 m
- Altitude Class
- highland
- Native To
- Sumatra, Indonesia
- IUCN Status
- Vulnerable
Taxonomy
- Described
- 2009
- Authority
- Akhriadi, Hernawati, Primaldhi & M.Hambali
Cultivation
- Difficulty
- intermediate
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