Nepenthes × sharifah-hapsahii
Nepenthes × sharifah-hapsahii is a natural hybrid between N. gracilis and N. mirabilis. It has been recorded from Borneo, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, and Thailand, although it was originally described as a species endemic to Peninsular Malaysia, where it was said to grow at elevations below 1000 m.
The type material of N. × sharifah-hapsahii was collected by J. H. Adam on the grounds of the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia campus on August 2, 2001. Both the holotype and isotype are deposited at the university's herbarium. The taxon was named after the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Vice Chancellor, Professor Dato' Dr. Sharifah Hapsah Syed Hasan Shahabudin.
Nepenthes × ghazallyana is a heterotypic synonym of N. × sharifah-hapsahii.
Description
The stem of this hybrid is cylindrical, glabrous, and may climb to a height of 5 m. Leaves are leathery in texture, lanceolate or oblong in morphology, and 9 to 20 cm long. Tendrils may be up to 20 cm long. Pitchers are infundibulate in the lower and upper portions and tubular in the middle. They measure up to 15 cm in height and 3.5 cm in width. The peristome is cylindrical and 1 to 2 mm thick. It bears distinct inner teeth and ribs. The lid is orbiculate and covered with numerous glands on the lower surface. N. × sharifah-hapsahii has a racemose inflorescence, the axis of which is 30 to 35 cm long. The female inflorescence is unknown at present.Identification
Nepenthes × sharifah-hapsahii most closely resembles N. gracilis. The table below shows characters that distinguish these two taxa, according to Adam and Hafiza.
Morphological characters Nepenthes × sharifah-hapsahii Nepenthes gracilis Shape of upper stem Cylindrical Triangular or angular Lamina base Attenuate into petiole like region and the base not decurrent but clasping stem for about half its circumference Not attenuate into petiole like region and the base decurrent, wings extend almost over one internode Distribution of nectar glands on lower lid surface Numerous nectar glands distributed all over lower lid surface Nectar glands scarcely distributed on lower lid surface Type of digestive glands on inner wall cavity of pitcher Overarched glands: prominently covered by extended epidermal roof conceal more than half of the glands Exposed glands: epidermal roof covering digestive glands poorly developed exposed almost all part of the glands Peristome ribs Distinct Inconspicuous Pedicels 2-flowered on lower 2/3 and 1-flowered on upper 1/3 part of male raceme All 1-flowered
Adam and Hafiza also noted that N. × sharifah-hapsahii is somewhat similar to N. tobaica, from which it differs in several aspects of leaf and inflorescence morphology. Unlike N. tobaica, N. × sharifah-hapsahii has overarched glands on the inner pitcher wall, one-flowered pedicels on the upper third of the male raceme, and numerous longitudinal veins on the lamina.