Nepenthes maxima Reinw. ex Nees
from Irian Jaya
HR |
HR |
Nepenthes maxima from Anggi Lakes / Irian Jaya, growing ont limestone in mossy forest |
Nepenthes maxima, growing at 2000 m above sea level in the trees. |
HR |
HR |
Nepenthes maxima var. minor from Anggi Lakes / Irian Jaya, growing in open areas |
Nepenthes maxima, growing at 2200 m above sea level. |
HR |
HR |
Nepenthes maxima from Doorman Top / Irian Jaya, growing in mossy forest, note the bright red colour |
Nepenthes maxima, growing at 1800 m above sea level. |
JN
|
JN
|
Nepenthes maxima from Doormans top, lower pitcher, growing at 1400 m about sea level | Nepenthes maxima from Doormans top, climbing plant, growing at 1400 m about sea level |
JN |
JN |
Nepenthes maxima from Central-Sulawesii, upper pitcher |
Nepenthes maxima from Central-Sulawesii, lower pitcher |
JN |
JN |
Nepenthes maxima small oblanceolata-type from Central-Sulawesii, upper pitcher |
Nepenthes maxima small oblanceolata-type from Central-Sulawesii, lower pitcher |
Remarks:
Nepenthes maxima is a common species of intermediate altitudes, known from Sulawesii and New Guinea. Records from Borneo turned out to belong to Nepenthes fusca. In Sulawesii 2 variants could be observed, the typical sized specimen and quite gracile specimen, formerly described as 'Nepenthes oblanceolata' from New Guinea. At New Guinea the variability is much higher. Here, they bear many forms, colours and sizes, sometimes growing side by side, as could be observed e.g. at the Anggi-Lakes, where a large selection of variations is growing side by side. Very beautiful specimen with shiny red colours can be found at Doormans top. It seems, that Nepenthes maxima is still in the process of species-differentiation.
Copyright of all pictures by Dr. Joachim Nerz (JN)(jaochim.nerz@online.de)
and Dr. Heiko Rischer (HR)