Nepenthaceae (2001 monograph)

Front cover of volume 15 of Flora Malesiana, showing N. northiana

"Nepenthaceae" is a monograph by Martin Cheek and Matthew Jebb on the tropical pitcher plants of Malesia, which encompasses Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Singapore.^[1] It was published in 2001 by the National Herbarium of the Netherlands as the fifteenth volume of the Flora Malesiana series. The species descriptions presented in the monograph are based on the authors' field observations in Borneo, New Guinea, and Peninsular Malaysia, as well as the examination of plant material deposited at 20 herbaria.^[1]

Cheek and Jebb recognise 83 species from Malesia, including three nothospecies (N. × hookeriana, N. × kinabaluensis, and N. × trichocarpa) and one "little known species" (N. deaniana). In addition, they mention four "excluded species": N. cincta (likely a natural hybrid between N. albomarginata and N. northiana), N. cristata ("a nonsense species based on mixed types"), N. lindleyana (of which the original material could not be located), and N. neglecta (which the authors consider likely to represent N. gracilis).^[1]

In "Nepenthaceae", Cheek and Jebb revised several of the taxonomic determinations made in their 1997 monograph, "A skeletal revision of Nepenthes (Nepenthaceae)". They supported Charles Clarke's interpretation of N. borneensis and N. faizaliana in Nepenthes of Borneo, synonymising the former with N. boschiana and restoring the latter as a distinct species, separate from N. stenophylla.^[1][2] In addition, N. philippinensis, which the authors had previously considered a doubtful taxon, was treated as distinct.^[1] Of the species described since the preparation of their skeletal revision, Cheek and Jebb accepted N. benstonei, N. lavicola, N. mira, and N. sibuyanensis. However, the authors rejected N. angasanensis, sinking it in synonymy with N. mikei.^[1]

Taxonomist Jan Schlauer reviewed "Nepenthaceae" in the March 2002 issue of the Carnivorous Plant Newsletter.^[3] He wrote that the monograph "contains essentially the same information as the "skeletal revision" published in 1997".^[3] Schlauer also added:^[3]

Unfortunately, recent work on previously overlooked type specimens [...] and on Sumatran species [...] was not considered in the present account. Molecular identification and classification methods (removing all ambiguity) would have been more useful than the selection of epitypes to stabilize the names N. stenophylla and N. pilosa.

Laura S. Meitzner Yoder gave a positive appraisal of the monograph in the January 2005 issue of Economic Botany:^[4]

Species descriptions include comprehensive references and characteristics of vegetative and floral parts. As upper and lower pitchers are prominent and important for identification, the authors give ample information about these features. Notes for each species give expert tips on avoiding confusion with similar species, observations on existing collections, and unique ecological notes and anecdotes. These notes make readers feel privy to trail discussions on an expedition with those who know well and appreciate each species in the family.

Well illustrated, with 19 mostly full-page drawings, this volume is indispensable not only for the botanist and horticulturist, but also recommended for botanically inclined travellers who may encounter these curious plants in the wild.

"Nepenthaceae" was also reviewed by Charles Clarke in the September 2001 issue of the Bulletin of the Australian Carnivorous Plant Society.^[5]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Cheek, M.R. & M.H.P. Jebb 2001. Nepenthaceae. Flora Malesiana 15: 1–157.
2. ^ Kurata, S. 2002. Revision trial in recent enumeration of Nepenthes species.PDF Proceedings of the 4th International Carnivorous Plant Conference: 111–116.
3. ^ ^{a b c} Schlauer, J. 2002. Literature Reviews. Carnivorous Plant Newsletter 31(2): 63.
4. ^ Yoder, L.S.M. 2005. Nepenthaceae. Flora Malesiana—Series 1 (Seed Plants) 15. Economic Botany 59(1): 97–98. doi:10.1663/0013-0001(2005)059[0097:NFMSP]2.0.CO;2
5. ^ Clarke, C.M. 2001. Literature Review: Nepenthaceae - Flora Malesiana Series 1 (Seed Plants), Volume 15, by Martin Cheek and Matthew Jebb. Bulletin of the Australian Carnivorous Plant Society 20(3): 7–12.