''Nepenthes'' × ''bauensis'' (; after Bau,

Sarawak Sarawak (; ) is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia. The largest among the 13 states, with an area almost equal to that of Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak is located in northwest Borneo Island, and is bordered by the M ...

) is a

natural hybrid In biology, a hybrid is the offspring resulting from combining the qualities of two organisms of different breeds, varieties, species or genera through sexual reproduction. Hybrids are not always intermediates between their parents (such as in ...

involving '' N. gracilis'' and '' N. northiana''.McPherson, S.R. & A. Robinson 2012. ''

Field Guide to the Pitcher Plants of Borneo This list of ''Nepenthes'' literature is a listing of major published works dealing with the tropical pitcher plants of the genus '' Nepenthes''. It includes specialised standalone publications and taxonomic monographs released as part of larg ...

''. Redfern Natural History Productions, Poole. ''Nepenthes'' × ''bauensis'' is intermediate in appearance between its two parent species. It displays the clumping habit and vine growth of ''N. gracilis'', but can be distinguished from that species on the basis of its larger leaves and stems. The influence of ''N. northiana'' is most obvious in the pitcher morphology. In particular, the

peristome Peristome (from the Greek ''peri'', meaning 'around' or 'about', and ''stoma'', 'mouth') is an anatomical feature that surrounds an opening to an organ or structure. Some plants, fungi, and shelled gastropods have peristomes. In mosses In mosses, ...

is wider than in ''N. gracilis'' and has scattered red bands. Pitchers are up to 15 cm high and may be pale green to purplish-red in colour. Like its parent species, ''N.'' × ''bauensis'' is a lowland plant that grows at an elevation of around 100 m. It is terrestrial in nature and inhabits swampy areas surrounding the limestone hills to which ''N. northiana'' is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

. This hybrid appears to be very rare and only a few plants have been found. It is known from a single location. ''N.'' × ''bauensis'' is one of only three known natural hybrids involving ''N. northiana'', the others being ''N.'' × ''cincta'' and a cross with '' N. mirabilis''. Image:Nepenthes bauensis11.jpg, Lower pitcher Image:Nepenthes bauensis22.jpg, Upper pitcher

References

* Fretwell, S. 2010. Twelve days in Borneo – a dream expedition: part 4. ''

Victorian Carnivorous Plant Society Journal ''Victorian Carnivorous Plant Society Inc.'', formerly titled simply ''Victorian Carnivorous Plant Society'' and also known as the ''VCPS Journal'', is a quarterly periodical A periodical literature (also called a periodical publication or simp ...

'' 98: 6–13. *Lee, C. C. 2004. ''Nepenthes''. In: Sarawak Bau Limestone Biodiversity. H.S. Yong, F.S.P. Ng and E.E.L. Yen (eds). ''The Sarawak Museum Journal'' Vol. LIX, No. 80; Special Issue No. 6: 71–77.
WildBorneo: ''Nepenthes × bauensis''
Carnivorous plants of Asia bauensis {{Nepenthes-stub