''Nepenthes nebularum'' is a tropical

pitcher plant Pitcher plants are several different carnivorous plants which have modified leaves known as pitfall traps—a prey-trapping mechanism featuring a deep cavity filled with digestive liquid. The traps of what are considered to be "true" pitcher p ...

native to southeastern

Mindanao Mindanao ( ) ( Jawi: مينداناو) is the second-largest island in the Philippines, after Luzon, and seventh-most populous island in the world. Located in the southern region of the archipelago, the island is part of an island group of ...

in the

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

. The species was described by Geoff Mansell, owner of Exotica Plants, and Filipino botanist Wally Suarez. It has so far been recorded with certainty from only two mountains (Mount Hafas & undisclosed location, where it grows in submontane

mossy forest A cloud forest, also called a water forest, primas forest, or tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF), is a generally tropical or subtropical, evergreen, montane, moist forest characterized by a persistent, frequent or seasonal low-level cloud c ...

at an altitude of up to 1800 m above sea level. It has been found in close proximity to '' N. copelandii'', '' N. truncata'', and a

taxon In biology, a taxon ( back-formation from '' taxonomy''; plural taxa) is a group of one or more populations of an organism or organisms seen by taxonomists to form a unit. Although neither is required, a taxon is usually known by a particular n ...

matching the description of '' N. cornuta''.

Discovery

In September 2011 participants on a trip to a remote mountain on south-eastern Mindanao, Stewart McPherson sighted epiphytically growing black ''Nepenthes truncata''-like plants and photos were taken from a distance; it was stated by some of the participants on this same trip that this was evidence of the then newly described ''N. robcantleyi'' in habitat. However, due to the distance and foggy surroundings, no real distinguishing features could be observed in the photo except for superficial similarities to both ''N. truncata''. On seeing the photo and noticing differences between these plants and ''N. robcantleyi'', Exotica Plants organized several trips to the mountain in 2012 in hope of obtaining more details of the plants. These were undertaken by Philippine botanist and ''Nepenthes''/orchid taxonomist Wally Suarez. The mountain was very foggy, leeches as well as spiny rattans were abundant, which made the ascent difficult. After three attempts the expedition successfully located a colony of the plants and a set of photographs were obtained which clearly distinguished these plants as different from both ''N. robcantleyi'' and ''N. truncata''.

Relationship to ''Nepenthes robcantleyi''

''Nepenthes nebularum'' shows close affinities to '' N. robcantleyi'' and '' N. truncata.'' ''Nepenthes robcantleyi'' is currently known from one region of Mindanao, Philippines, where it occurs from sub-montane to upper montane forest. At least two commercial horticulturists have indicated that ''nebularum'' does differ from ''N. robcantleyi'' in cultivation therefore warranting separate species status. Extensive growing experience by Geoff Mansell of Exotica Plants also proved the two species are distinct. The authors of ''N. nebularum'' suggest that ''N. robcantleyi'' might represent 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 ...

between ''N. nebularum'' and ''N. truncata''. But until more molecular genetics evidence elucidates the link between the hybrid connection, and ''N. nebularum'' actually being a species, this cannot be officially confirmed.

Distribution and habitat

The specific epithet '' nebularum'' refers to the foggy habitat in which it was discovered.

References

Carnivorous plants of Asia nebularum Plants described in 2016 Endemic flora of the Philippines Flora of Mindanao {{Nepenthes-stub