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Nepenthes (Old Greek name of a plant used)

(an old Greek name of a plant used by Homer; the word means grief-assuaging, and is used in reference to supposed medicinal qualities). Pitcher-plant. SYN. Phyllamphora. The only genus of ORD. Nepenthaceae (which see for characters). The species of this genus are not of difficult culture, provided they are kept in a moist atmosphere, where a temperature of from 70deg. to 80deg. is maintained during summer, and 65deg. in winter. They succeed best in a compost of two parts brown peat fibre and one of sphagnum. Nepenthes are most suitable for basket culture, and require an abundant supply of water in summer. Propagation may be effected by cuttings of well-ripened one-year-old shoots, plunged into a strong bottom heat; or by seeds, when procurable. The latter should be thinly sown in a seed-pan, filled to within 1in. of its rim with a compost similar to that already described, a little water being carefully sprinkled over the surface previous to sowing. The pan should then be placed in a moist, close frame, having a bottom heat of 80deg. to 85deg. Germination will ensue in about one month from the time of sowing. When several leaves appear, the seedlings should be transplanted into small pots.

N. albo-marginata (white-margined). l. narrow, 9in. to 12in. long. Pitchers light green below, reddish above, having a distinct white ring towards the mouth. Singapore, 1848. A very dwarf-growing species, admirably suited for basket culture. (G. C. 1849, 580; T. L. S. xxii. 73.) N. ampullaria (bottle-like). l. broad, oblong, with somewhat ovate pitchers; terminal lid very small; colour a uniform light green. Borneo, &c., 1789. A robust-growing species. (B. M. 5109; F. d. S. 2325.) N. a. picta (spotted). A variety having light green pitchers, streaked and spotted with reddish-brown.

N. a. vittata major (larger-striped). A form having relatively small flask-shaped pitchers, with two fringed wings and a small lid, the pitcher itself elegantly mottled with reddish blotches on a green ground. (I. H. 272.) N. angustifolia (narrow-leaved). l. sub-coriaceous, sessile, amplexicaul, decurrent, narrowly lanceolate, acuminate, with the midrib prolonged into a long tendril. Pitchers green, spotted with red, 1 3/4in. to 2in. long, flask-shaped, distended at the base, gradually passing into an elongated, cylindrical neck; wings narrow, fringed; mouth obliquely ovate, sulcate-striate; lid glabrous, cordate, sub-orbicular, with a short, entire, pinnatisect spur at the base. Sarawak, 1881.

N. atro-sanguinea (dark-blood-red).* l. stalked. Pitchers reddish-crimson, slightly spotted with yellow, about 6in. by 2 1/2in., pointed at the base, distended at the lower half, cylindric above; wings broad, fringed; mouth ovate, acute, slightly prolonged towards the lid, and surrounded by a flattish rim, marked with close ridges, some red, others blackish; lid about the size of the mouth, oblong, emarginate, with a simple spur at the base. 1882. A handsome garden hybrid, probably a cross between N. rubra and N. Sedeni. (G. C. n. s., xvii. 827.) N. bicalcarata (two-spurred).* l. of a peculiar dark green, obovate-lanceolate. Pitchers bag-shaped, covered when young with a fluffy rust-coloured down, and provided with two sharply-toothed wings when fully developed; neck thrown into ridges with intervening furrows, and prolonged at the back into an erect or slightly incurved process, terminating in the two recurved spurs, like the fangs of a snake with its head uplifted to strike. Borneo, 1878. (G. C. n. s., xiii. 201.) N. chelsonii (Chelsea). A garden hybrid between N. Dominiana and N. Hookeriana, and having a habit intermediate between the two. It is well worth growing.

N. cincta (girded). l. approximate, 12in. by 3in., coriaceous, oblong-lanceolate, tapering to a broad dilated base, dark green; midrib somewhat angular on the lower surface. Pitchers green, flushed with red, and with numerous irregular purple blotches, tubular, slightly ventricose, rounded at base, 7in. to 8in. by 2 1/2in.; rim very oblique, 1/4in. broad, undulate, lobed, finely ribbed, with a narrow whitish band around the top of the tube; lower half thicker in texture than the upper; lid orbicular and two-ribbed, arching over the mouth of the pitcher. Stems cylindrical, stout. Borneo, 1884. (G. C. n. s., xxi. 110.) N. coccinea (scarlet).* l. acute at apex. Pitchers crimson, slightly speckled with yellow, 6in. by 3in., flask-shaped, pointed at the base, distended below the middle, broadly cylindric above; wings deeply fringed; mouth ovate, acute, slightly protracted at the back; rim broad, finely ribbed, the ribs parti-coloured red and black; throat greenish, speckled with red; lid ovate-oblong, smaller than the mouth, greenish, striped and speckled with red. 1882. A hybrid of American origin. (G. C. n. s., xviii. 29.) N. Courtii (Court's).* l. dark green, coriaceous, lanceolate, acute at the apex, tapering towards the base, which expands to clasp the stem. Pitchers dull greyish-green, spotted with red, about 5in. by 2 1/2in., distended at the base, cylindrical above the middle, with deep, sharply laciniate wings, equal in width all the way down; mouth ovate, finely and evenly ribbed; lid somewhat convex-ovate, smaller than the mouth, and with a single spur at the back. 1881. A remarkably handsome hybrid, raised by Mr. Court at Messrs. Veitch's. (G. C. n. s., xvi. 845.) N. distillatoria (distilling). l. bright light green. Pitchers 6in. to 8in. long. Ceylon, 1789. A very desirable species, of free growth, and requiring less heat than any other. A variety named rubra is very distinct and ornamental, having deep blood-red pitchers.

N. distillatoria (distilling), of Graham. A synonym of N. Khasiana. N. Dominiana (Dominy's). l. dark green, coriaceous, broad, oblong. Pitchers deep green, and slightly spotted, several inches in height. A handsome garden hybrid, of robust growth.

N. Dormanniana (Dormann's).* l. broadly lanceolate, acute at the apex, finely ciliate at the edges. Pitchers green, heavily spotted with deep red blotches, nearly 6in. by 3in., flask-shaped, pointed at the base, distended below the middle, tapering upwards into a broad tube, the rim of which is broad, finely ribbed, and slightly oblique; wings deep, fringed at the edges, and rounded at the base; lid broadly ovate, with a simple spur at the base. A fine hybrid, probably of American origin. (G. C. n. s., xvii. 525.) N. hirsuta glabrescens (hairy-glabrescent). l. sub-amplexicaul, broad at the base, lanceolate. Pitchers 5in. by 1 3/4in., elongate cylindrical, slightly dilated at the base, reddish, with conspicuous veins, or wholly green; wings deep fringed; mouth ovate, slightly prolonged at the back, surrounded by a greenish-yellow, finely-ribbed rim; lid about the size of the mouth, cordate, emarginate, with a simple spur. Borneo. (G. C. n. s., xvii. 399.) N. Hookeriana (Hooker's).* l. coriaceous, nearly glabrous, acute at both ends. Pitchers spotted with red, sub-globose, or sometimes elongated, with a flattish, finely-ribbed margin surrounding the ovate mouth, and scarcely prolonged at the back; wings very deep, broad, rounded at both ends, and sharply laciniate at the margin; lid flat, obovate, emarginate, with a simple spur at the base. Sarawak, 1847. A very handsome plant, closely related to N. Rafflesiana, from which it differs in its short petiole, its venation, but more especially in the flatter (not hood-like) lid, and in the absence of the long process supporting it, which is so marked a feature of the latter. (G. C. n. s., xvi. 813.) N. hybrida (hybrid). l. deep green, oblong, broad. Pitchers dark green, about 8in. long, winged and ciliated in front. A garden hybrid. The variety maculata resembles the type in general appearance; but the pitchers, which are about 10in. long, are profusely streaked with reddish-purple upon a dark green ground.

N. intermedia (intermediate).* l. coriaceous, tapering to both ends. Pitchers green, spotted with red, about 6in. by 2 1/2in., somewhat cylindrical, pointed at the base, slightly swollen in the middle; wings broad, rounded at the base, fringed; mouth obliquely ovate, prolonged at the back into a column supporting the lid, which is ovate-obtuse, slightly hooded. 1882. A handsome hybrid. (G. C. n. s., xvii. 179.) N. Kennedyana (Kennedy's). l. oblong-lanceolate, very acute, tapering at the base into a broadish, stem-clasping stalk. Pitchers reddish, over 5in. long by 1 1/2in. wide, elongate-cylindrical, slightly dilated below the middle, tapering at the base, and with deep, sharply-fringed wings; mouth oblique, surrounded by a narrow, finely-ribbed rim; throat glaucous-violet; lid sub-orbicular, as large as the mouth, and with a simple spur at the base. Cape York, North Australia, 1882. (G. C. n. s., xvii. 257.) N. Khasiana (Khasian).* fl. green, yellow, dioecious, in a solitary raceme. l. entire, channelled, undulated, glabrous, 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. long, including the petiole. Pitchers green, with purplish markings, 6 1/2in. long, 4 1/2in. in circumference, wedge-shaped behind when young; lid 2 1/2in. by 2in. h. 6ft. China, 1789. (B. M. 2798, under name of N. distillatoria.) N. Ianata (woolly). l. deep green, glabrous above, paler, and thinly covered with blackish hairs beneath, coriaceous, oblong-obtuse, 1ft. or more long, gradually tapering at the base into a broad leafstalk. Pitchers greenish, about 6in. by 1 1/2in., cylindrical, winged on the posterior side next the axis of the plant; wings toothed and fringed; mouth ovate, acute, prolonged anteriorly into a triangular neck; lid oblong or sub-orbicular, glandular on the under surface. Borneo, 1876. According to the "Gardeners' Chronicle," there has been a good deal of confusion as to the true Nepenthes Veitchii, which, however, is well figured by Sir Joseph Hooker, in his monograph, in the "Linnaean Transactions." Among other plants misnamed N. Veitchii, the subject of this note, must be included. By some oversight, the plate in the "Illustration Horticole" [1876, 261] bears the name of N. lanata, while the accompanying text is headed N. Veitchii, and the description given applies to that species.

N. Lawrenciana (Lawrence's).* Pitchers pale green, spotted profusely with dark crimson, 4in. long. 1880. A very distinct hybrid, between N. Phyllamphora and N. Hookeriana; it is of very compact growth, and the edges of its leaves are slightly serrated. (G. C. n. s., xiv. 40.) N. madagascariensis (Madagascar).* l. coriaceous, oblong, gradually tapering at the base into a short, broad, amplexicaul stalk, and narrowing gradually into an acute lance-shaped point, terminating in a pitcher-bearing tendril. Pitcher crimson, 2 1/4in. long, 1in. wide, thinly hairy, flask-shaped, with two membranous fringed wings in front; mouth nearly circular, surrounded by a narrow, closely-ribbed border, the throat of a pale cream-colour; lid transversely oblong, or somewhat kidney-shaped, obtuse at both ends, contracted in the middle, and with a small, simple, or laciniate spur at the back. Madagascar, 1881. A very handsome species. (for which we are indebted to Messrs. Veitch and Sons).

N. Mastersiana (Dr. Masters').* l. sessile, coriaceous, oblong. ovate, acute, reddish at the margins, auriculate-amplexicaul at the base; midrib depressed above, prominent beneath. Pitcher deep claret-red, 4 1/2in. by 1 1/4in., thinly hairy, here and there purple-spotted, cylindrical, somewhat ventricose, slightly contracted above the middle; wings deep, sharply and irregularly toothed at the margin; mouth rounded, surrounded by a clear, shining red, closely-ribbed margin; throat pinky cream, with red spots; lid about the size of the mouth, sub-orbicular, convex. A hybrid, raised at Messrs. Veitch and Sons', between N. Khasiana and N. sanguinea. (G. C. n. s., xvi. 749; xxi. 248, 249.) N. Morganiae (Mrs. Morgan's).* l. pale green, with red midribs, smooth. Pitchers beautifully mottled with bright red and pale green when young, almost self-coloured and blood-red in an adult stage, flask-shaped, 6in. to 8in. long, with two narrow ciliolate wings; lid always pale green. 1881. A beautiful hybrid, of dwarf, neat habit.

N. Northiana (Miss North's).* l. coriaceous, oblong-ovate, acute, tapering at the base into a short, broad, amplexicaul stalk. Pitchers purple-spotted, nearly 1ft. long, and 3 1/2in. wide, sub-coriaceous or membranous, elongate, cylindric, slightly curved, with two membranous dentate-fimbriate wings; mouth elliptic, elongated, very oblique, 4in. by 1 3/4in., and surrounded by a broad, everted, closely and finely-ribbed margin or peristome; lid ovate-oblong, smooth, shiny on the inner surface, where it is sprinkled with small black dots. Borneo, 1881. A very beautiful and noble species. (for which we are indebted to Messrs. Veitch and Sons). (G. C. n. s., xvi. 717.) N. Outramiana (Outram's). l. shortly stalked, ovate, tapering to both ends. Pitchers 5in. long, of fine form, broad at the base, tapering into a cylindrical neck, pale yellowish-green, densely spotted with small dark blood-red spots, which in some instances coalesce and nearly cover the entire surface, while the interior and the mouth are also well marked. 1880. A handsome hybrid between N. Sedeni and N. Hookeriana, of very free growth. (F. M. n. s., 384.) N. Phyllamphora (pitcher-leaved). l. bright green, large, broad, oblong. Pitchers the same colour as the leaves, 5in. to 10in. long, not winged, but furnished with a few hairs in front. Borneo, &c. A very handsome and free-growing species, with a somewhat robust habit. (B. M. 2629.) N. Rafflesiana (Sir Stamford Raffles').* fl. yellow and brown; racemes at first terminal, eventually lateral, opposite a leaf. September. l. alternate, petiolate, the lower ones crowded and lanceolate, the upper ones more remote and oblong. Pitchers greenish-yellow, with brown markings, very handsome; remarkable for the very long process supporting the lid. Singapore, 1815. (B. M. 4285; F. d. S. 213, 214; G. C. n. s., ix. 177.) N. R. insignis (remarkable). l. 18in. by 3in., with short, deeply-channelled leafstalks. Pitchers green, mottled purplish-brown, thickly beset with brownish hairs, 9in. long by 4in. wide, obliquely flask-shaped, the rim deeply and evenly ribbed. 1882. (G. C. n. s., xviii. 69.) N. R. nigro-purpurea (dark purple). l. leathery, glabrescent, acute at both ends, with rather long channelled stalks. Pitchers dull purplish-brown, with a few paler spots, and a few brownish star-like hairs, 6 1/2in. long by 2in. wide, distended; wings incurved, toothed; rim consisting of numerous closely-set ribs; lid 2in. by 1 3/4in. 1882. A distinct variety. (G. C. n. s., xviii. 70.) N. Rajah (Rajah.)* l. coriaceous, oblong, tapering at the base into a conduplicate channelled-leaved stalk; apex rounded, tendril given off from the under surface a short distance below the apex. Pitchers dull purple, over 1ft. long, slightly hairy, broadly cylindrical or slightly saccate, somewhat dilated at the base, ribbed; ribs slightly fringed; mouth very broad, oval, purplish, closely ribbed, ribs ending in sharp comb-like points; lid sub-orbicular, spurred at the back. Borneo, 1881. A noble species. (G. C. n. s., xvi. 493.) N. Ratcliffiana (Ratcliff's).* l. light green, linear-lanceolate, acute at both ends, 12in. to 15in. long, 1 1/2in. wide. Pitchers green, spotted with red, 5in. to 6in. by 2in., flask-shaped; wings ciliate, broad or shallow, narrow at the base; mouth oblique, surrounded by a ribbed parti-coloured rim; lid about the size of the mouth, ovate, glandular on the inner surface, and with a simple spur at the base. An attractive hybrid, said to have been raised between N. Hookeriana and N. Phyllamphora. (G. C. n. s., xvii. 178.) N. robusta (robust). A very free-growing hybrid, the result of a cross between N. Hookeriana and N. Phyllamphora, with pitchers intermediate in character between the two, but having the colour and markings of N. Hookeriana. The pitcher in this variety has a somewhat pear-shaped appearance. 1880. N. rubra (red). Pitchers bright red, very large. Ceylon, 1868. A distinct and beautiful species, of slender habit, and very rare in cultivation. N. rubro-maculata (red-spotted).* l. very dark green, partly amplexicaul, 12in. long, 2in. wide, rounded at the apex, coriaceous. Pitcher yellowish-green, spotted with claret-red, 5in. to 6in. long, 1 3/4in. wide, cylindrical, slightly distended at the base, deeply winged; wings fringed; mouth oblique, surrounded by a broad, flat rim, the ridges of which are deep red; lid much smaller than the mouth, ovate, red-spotted, glandular on the inner surface. A hybrid, raised by Messrs. Veitch in 1882. (G. C. n. s., xvii. 143.) N. sanguinea (blood-red).* l. dark green. Pitchers of a deep blood-red, 5in. to 10in. long. East Indies. A beautiful but extremely rare species. (G. C. n. s., xi. 13.) N. sanguinea (blood-red), of gardens. A synonym of N. Veitchii. N. Sedeni (Seden's).* Pitchers light green, profusely blotched and freckled with brownish-crimson, medium-sized. A very desirable garden hybrid, obtained from seed, N. distillatoria being one of the parents, and whose habit it seems to bear. It produces pitchers very freely.

N. superba (superb). A hybrid, resembling N. Hookeriana in habit, but its pitchers are intermediate between those of that species and of N. Sedeni. 1881. (F. M. 434.) N. Veitchii (Veitch's).* l. coriaceous, obovate-lanceolate, tapering at the base. Pitchers about 12in. long, somewhat, cylindrical, narrowed at the base, with two deep, sharply-laciniate wings, the laciniae themselves somewhat acutely lobed; mouth surrounded by a very broad everted border, strongly ribbed, the ribs ending in sharp teeth, which point downward; lid very small relatively to the mouth, oblong, keeled at the base. Borneo. A very handsome species. (B. M. 5080, under name of N. villosa; G. C. n. s., xvi. 781, and xviii. 809, under name of N. sanguinea.) N. villosa (hairy). l. dark ferruginous-green, broad, somewhat spathulate. Pitchers dull green, faintly blotched with reddish-brown, 10in. to 12in. long, winged in front, the wings deeply lacerated at the edges; the annular disk of the mouth is very broad, and reddish-pink; lid small, rusty-green, blotched with reddish-brown. Borneo, 1855. A species rarely seen in cultivation. N. villosa (hairy), of "Botanical Magazine." A synonym of N. Veitchii. N. Williamsii (Williams').* This handsome form is a hybrid from N. Sedeni and N. Hookeriana, having the pitchers intermediate in shape between those of the two parents, these being 4in. to 5in. long, densely spotted with blood-red, the red in many cases predominating, while the interior is marked with the same colour; the under side of the lid is reddish-brown. 1880. (G. C. n. s., xiv. 40.) N. Wrigleyana (Wrigley's). l. light green, 10in. to 12in. long, 1 3/4in. to 2in. wide, acute at both ends, glandular beneath. Pitchers pale green, with crimson spots, flask-shaped, with a thick cylindrical neck; wings narrow, ciliate; mouth oblique, ribbed; ribs all green; lid broadly oval, smaller than the mouth, glandular on the inner surface, and with a simple spur. A hybrid. 1882. (G. C. n. s., xvii. 143.)