''Heliamphora exappendiculata'' (
Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...
: ''ex'' = without, ''appendicula'' = small appendage) is a species of
marsh pitcher plant native to the
Chimantá and
Aprada Massifs of
Bolívar state,
Venezuela
Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...
.
[McPherson, S., A. Wistuba, A. Fleischmann & J. Nerz (2011). '' Sarraceniaceae of South America''. Redfern Natural History Productions, Poole.] It was for a long time considered a variety of ''
H. heterodoxa'', but has recently been raised to species rank. Pitchers collect insects on flattened pitcher mouths which function as 'landing platforms' upon which prey falls from surrounding vegetation. Also, the pitcher shape effectively collects leaf litter and organic debris which may serve as additional source of nutrition for plants, similarly to ''H. ionasi.'' ''H. exappendiculata'' hybridizes naturally with ''H. pulchella'' and ''H. huberi'' in areas within which they grow together. This species occurs in shaded conditions, apparently preferring them over other habitats. In addition, plants upon Chimanta and Amuri Tepui grow directly upon the walls of gorges and ravines where surfaces are permanently wet. In contrast to those populations, on all other tepuis and massif regions the species grows on summit savannahs and stunted or shrubby forests, though these individuals represent a minority in habitat choice.
References
Further reading
* Hingst, M. (2014)
Amuri Part IV - ''Heliamphora'' (''uncinata'', ''exappendiculata'', ''pulchella'' 'black') CPUK Forum, 12 April 2014.
* McPherson, S. (2007). ''Pitcher Plants of the Americas''. The McDonald & Woodward Publishing Company, Blacksburg, Virginia.
* Taylor, M.S. (1989). Plant taxa described by Julian A. Steyermark. ''Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden'' 76(3): 652–780.
* Wistuba, A., T. Carow, P. Harbarth, & J. Nerz (2005)
''Heliamphora pulchella'', eine neue mit ''Heliamphora minor'' (Sarraceniaceae) verwandte Art aus der Chimanta Region in Venezuela.''
Das Taublatt'' 53(3): 42–50.
exappendiculata
Endemic flora of Venezuela
Carnivorous plants of South America
Flora of the Tepuis
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