Marcello Catalano · CC BY-SA 3.0
About
A notable climbing species, *Nepenthes suratensis* is characterized by its linear to lanceolate leaves, and its inflorescence features green tepals with red margins. It is endemic to the coastal regions of Thailand and is currently listed as Critically Endangered due to rapid urban development.
Field notes
Morphology
The plant is a climbing species growing up to 3 m high, with terete stems up to 5 mm in diameter. Leaves are sessile, coriaceous, and linear to lanceolate, measuring up to 35 cm long by 4 cm wide. Tendrils are up to 24 cm long. Rosette and lower pitchers are ovate, measuring up to 15 cm high by 5 cm wide, featuring a flattened peristome up to 10 mm wide and a lid up to 4.5 cm long. Upper pitchers are tubulose to narrowly infundibular, measuring up to 18 cm high by 3 cm wide. The inflorescence has green tepals with red margins.
Distribution & habitat
Endemic to the coastal regions of Surat Thani Province, Thailand, found in lowland areas at altitudes of 0–200 m above sea level. Its typical habitat is open scrub and grassland.
History & etymology
The first known collection was made by Arthur Francis George Kerr in 1927. The species was formally described by Marcello Catalano in 2010, with Kerr 13136 designated as the holotype.
Conservation
Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species due to the predicted decline of ≥80% over the next three years resulting from planned urban development.
Habitat
- Altitude
- 0–200 m
- Altitude Class
- lowland
- Native To
- Thailand
- IUCN Status
- Critically Endangered
Taxonomy
- Described
- 2010
- Authority
- M.Catal.
Cultivation
- Difficulty
- intermediate
In My Collection 1 plant
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