Nepenthes fallax

Taxobox
name = "Nepenthes fallax"
status = VU
status_system = iucn2.3

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image_width = 200px
image_caption = Upper pitchers of "N. fallax" growing along a logging road to Mount Murud
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Caryophyllales
familia = Nepenthaceae
genus = "Nepenthes"
species = "N. fallax"
binomial = "Nepenthes fallax"
binomial_authority = Beck (1895)
synonyms =
*"Nepenthes alata"
"auct. non" Blanco: Smythies (1965)
*"Nepenthes boschiana" var. "lowii"
Hook.f. (1873)
*"Nepenthes boschiana"
"auct. non" Korth.: Macfarl. (1908)
[="N. boschiana/N. fallax"]
*"Nepenthes fusca" subsp. "apoensis"
J.H.Adam & Wilcock "ex" Jebb & Cheek (1997) "nom.nud."
*"Nepenthes maxima"
"auct. non" Reinw. "ex" Nees: Becc. (1886)
[="N. boschiana/N. fallax/N. maxima/N. sumatrana"]
*"Nepenthes maxima" var. "lowii"
(Hook.f.) Becc. (1886)
*?"Nepenthes pilosa"
"auct. non" Danser: Phillipps & A.L.Lamb (1988)
*"Nepenthes sandakanensis"
J.H.Adam & Wilcock (1996)
*"Nepenthes sandakanensis" var. "eglandulosa"
J.H.Adam & Wilcock (1996)
*"Nepenthes sandakanensis" var. "ferruginea"
J.H.Adam & Wilcock (1996)
*"Nepenthes stenophylla"
"auct. non" Mast.: Danser (1928)

"Nepenthes fallax" (pronEng|nəˈpɛnθiːz ˈfælæks, from Latin: "fallax" = spurious, not genuine) is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Borneo. It produces attractive funnel-shaped pitchers up to 15 cm high.Clarke, C.M. 1997. "Nepenthes of Borneo". Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu.]

There has been confusion surrounding this taxon and "N. stenophylla" ever since it was first described. "N. fallax" matches "N. stenophylla" in most respects, except for the shape of the lid; the type specimen of "N. fallax" has an lid, whereas that of "N. stenophylla" is narrow. However, the description of "N. stenophylla" was based on a plant raised from seed in a greenhouse in England, and the shape of the lid could be an aberrant characteristic resulting from artificial growing conditions.

In his seminal monograph "The Nepenthaceae of the Netherlands Indies", B. H. Danser treated "N. fallax" as a junior synonym of "N. stenophylla".Danser, B.H. 1928. The Nepenthaceae of the Netherlands Indies. "Bulletin de Jardin de Botanique, Buitenzorg", Série III, 9(3–4): 249–438.] This interpretation was supported by a number of subsequent authors.Jebb, M.H.P. & M.R. Cheek 1997. A Skeletal Revision of "Nepenthes" (Nepenthaceae). "Blumea" 42(1): 1–106.]

Jan Schlauer, however, considers the taxa as two separate species based on the shape of the lid. [Schlauer, J. 2006. [http://www.omnisterra.com/bot/cp_home.cgi?name=Nepenthes+fallax&submit=Submit+Query&search=all "Nepenthes fallax"] . Carnivorous Plant Database.]

Natural hybrids

The following natural hybrids involving "N. fallax" have been recorded.

*"N. fallax" × "N. fusca"Phillips, A., A. Lamb & C.C. Lee 2008. "Pitcher Plants of Borneo". Second Edition. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu.]
*"N. fallax" × "N. lowii"
*"N. fallax" × "N. rajah"
*"N. fallax" × "N. reinwardtiana"
*"N. fallax" × "N. tentaculata"
*"N. fallax" × "N. veitchii"

References

* Listed as Vulnerable (VU D2 v2.3).
* Sacilotto, R. 2004. [http://carnivorousplants.org/cpn/samples/v33n1p26_31.html Experiments with highland "Nepenthes" seedlings: A Summary of Measured Tolerances] . "Carnivorous Plant Newsletter" 33(1): 26–31.

External links

* [http://wistuba.com/01b021931400a5f03/01b021931400a6606/01b021932514ca60f/index.html "Nepenthes fallax" in its natural habitat]