Monday, March 2, 2020

[Botany • 2019] Nepenthes cabanae (Nepenthaceae) • A New Species of Pitcher Plant from Central Mindanao, Philippines


Nepenthes cabanae Lagunday & V.B. Amoroso

in Lagunday & Amoroso, 2019. 
Philippine Journal of Systematic Biology. 13(1) 

Abstract
A new endemic species, Nepenthes cabanae, belonging to sect. Insignes is described from the Mt. Pantaron range of central Mindanao. The species is assessed as Critically Endangered. This discovery brings the number of Nepenthes species in this mountain range to eight. Mt. Pantaron is currently not a protected area, but the diversity of Nepenthes taxa suggests concerted efforts should be made to develop a conservation strategy to preserve and protect the area.

KEYWORDS: carnivorous plants, Nepenthes, Pantaron range, taxonomy, threatened species


Figure 2. Upper pitchers on living plants of Nepenthes cabanae Lagunday & V.B. Amoroso.
Figure 3. Upper pitchers and leaf attachment on living plant of Nepenthes cabanae
Figure 4. An intermediate pitcher on living plant of Nepenthes cabanae.
 (Photos: N.E. Lagunday).

Figure 5. Nepenthes cabanae Lagunday & V.B. Amoroso.A) upper pitcher, B) intermediate pitcher, C) peristome inner margin, D) waxy zone, E) digestive zone, F) leaf attachment, G) pitcher exterior with indumentum, H) indumentum types, I & J) lid spur, K) gland distribution in the basal lower lid surface, L) gland distribution in the mid lower lid surface, M) gland distribution in the apical lower lid surface, N) nectar glands in the lower lid surface. All from the holotype. (Photos: N.E. Lagunday).

Nepenthes cabanae Lagunday & V.B. Amoroso, sp. nov. 

Diagnosis: Leaves unequally decurrent with four longitudinal nerves; lower pitchers subcylindrical, bottom half slightly inflated, top half cylindrical towards the mouth; peristome with short triangular indistinct teeth not projecting beyond peristome margin.


Etymology: The specific epithet honors Dr. Veneracion G. Cabana, who funded scientific expeditions in the unexplored areas in central Mindanao, Philippines viz. Mt. Pantaron range and Mt. Tangkulan range.



Conclusion And Recommendation:
 Explorations in the incompletely surveyed areas of central Mindanao, Philippines led to the discovery of N. cabanae another new species of pitcher plant making the Philippines home to a total of 58 species. This discovery makes the Mt. Pantaron range a home to eight Nepenthes species. Mt. Pantaron is currently not a protected area, and the presence of threatened and endemic species of Nepenthes in the area calls for immediate conservation strategies by the local stakeholders to preserve and protect these plants from illegal poaching. 


  Noel E. Lagunday and Victor B. Amoroso. 2019. Nepenthes cabanae (Caryophyllales, Nepenthaceae), A New Species of Pitcher Plant from Central Mindanao, Philippines. Philippine Journal of Systematic Biology. 13(1); 39-45. DOI: 10.26757/pjsb2019a13005.