‘Spectacular’ rat-eating plant found in Palawan

[OceanBreezeInn]

The Philippines is home to another plant that is not found in any other place in the world after botanists discovered a new species that is capable of eating rats and insects in central Palawan.



The huge carnivorous pitcher plant called Nepenthes attenboroughii, said to be the largest meat-eating plant, was discovered at Mount Victoria in the municipality of Narra.

The group of botanists led by Britons Alastair Robinson and Stewart McPherson saw the plant in 2007.

They heard of the new plant species from two Christian missionaries who claimed to have seen the huge pitcher plant in 2000, reported Chris Irvine of the Telegraph.

“The plant produces spectacular traps which catch not only insects, but also rodents,” McPherson told Irvine.

“It is remarkable that it remained undiscovered until the 21st century,” he added.

“A spectacular new species of Nepenthes L.(Nepenthaceae) pitcher plant from central Palawan, Philippines” was published in the Botanical Journal of Linnean Society in February 2009.

According to the journal article, the Philippines is home to 17 Nepenthes species, 16 of which are endemic. This means that they can only be found in the Philippines.

The Philippines is the “third richest region for Nepenthes diversity after Sumatra and Borneo, each with approximately 30 endemic species.”

The botanists described the new Nepenthes species as “immediately distinguishable from other Nepenthes by its great dimensions and trumpet-shaped lower and upper pitchers.”

They also noted that it is the “only member of the genus occurring at high elevation on the mountain.”



Report also at BBC

Thanks for sharing this , saw it on BBC too but also read your given link.

I recall a similar expedition of local botanists and biologists in Mt. Isarog (Camarines Sur ) a few years back and similarly they discovered new and unnamed species, and later giving the new discoveries their latin name , I think each one bearing philippinen or isarog.

The Mt. Victoria discoveries especially the carnivore plant was named Nepenthes attenboroughii , (How about Nepenthes attenboroughii philippinen) I just wished the discoverers -group of Briton biologists- paid more respect to their host. Affixing philippinen or victoria or palawan would be highly appreciated after the second term in honor of their hero- David Attenborough - who is (to be honest) not that popular in this part of world.