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Feb 10, 2010, 3:28pm

Carnivorous Plants in the tropics :: Plants :: Nepenthes :: Nepenthes in the wild... :: N. smilesii in Kampot, Cambodia

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Topic: N. smilesii in Kampot, Cambodia (Read 515 times)

Sockhom
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N. smilesii in Kampot, Cambodia
« Thread Started on Aug 18, 2009, 3:40pm »

Hello,

I returned from Cambodia 2 days ago. It was an interesting trip.
I spent three weeks there searching for carnivorous plants. It is now my intention to write a book on the CP of that country.
I have observed 12 CP species that I will show throughout some internet field reports.
Initially, my goal was to relocate N. kampotiana in Cambodia and in the true N. thorelii in Vietnam. Unfortunately, due to some logistic problems, I could not make it to Vietnam so I will look after N. thorelii on my next trip. I did not find N. kampotiana either (not enough time).
However, my trip has been very rewarding as I have found many places for Nepenthes, Drosera and Utricularia, including one new taxon.

In this first post, I want to introduce you to the most widespread Indochinese species: Nepenthes smilesii.
The Indochinese Nepenthes have been a source of confusion for many decades and until very recently, no research has been undertaken.

For a very long time, Nepenthes enthusiasts were used to know two species from Indochina: N. anamensis and N. thorelii.

I'll make it short:
All the plants known as thorelii in cultivation do not fit the type description of N. thorelii nor do they fit the lectotypes of that species.
The "thorelii" in cultivation are either other Indochinese species (some might be undescribed species) of hybrids between them.

N. anamensis has been this year synonymised with N smilesii (Mey 2009; McPherson, Robinson, Fleischmann 2009).This name is the right one to be used.
N. smilesii is widespread in is clearly recognisable in the field
Although, it can exhibits some variations, it is quite uniform and reports of N smilesii (anamensis) to be a very variable species are simply false because such assertion were made at a time where Indochina was thought to only host two species (ie N. anamensis (smilesii) and N thorelii).

I found N. smilesii in several places in Cambodia. One of them was in Kampot, in southern Cambodia.
The plant grows in dry savannah like meadow. They are exposed to full sun and to a very dry season. They are sometimes exposed to fire and can recover easily.
Humidity can be very low during the day.

N. smilesii is mostly found in intermediate locations but can be found in true lowland conditions. This very population has been found at 16 m, almost sea level.

So how does one recognize N. smilesii from the other Indochinese species as this group includes similar species?
It's actually easy. You just need to take the time to examine some features.
In short, N. smilesii is hairy, has short tendrils, and is often a compact species. It flowers readily at a rosette stage and climbing plants are not very common.
When you're used to look after Indochinese species in the wild, you can often distinguish them by looking at the pitchers but, to the untrained eye, most pitchers of that group of species are similar.

« Last Edit: Aug 18, 2009, 7:59pm by Sockhom »

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Sockhom
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Re: N. smilesii in Kampot, Cambodia
« Reply #1 on Aug 18, 2009, 3:47pm »

François.

« Last Edit: Aug 19, 2009, 2:41am by Sockhom »

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sirkristoff
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Re: N. smilesii in Kampot, Cambodia
« Reply #2 on Aug 19, 2009, 12:29am »

gorgeous photos francois, i really have underestimated the beauty of this plant

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jk
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Re: N. smilesii in Kampot, Cambodia
« Reply #3 on Aug 19, 2009, 3:15am »

Thanks for the great photos.

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sulud1
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Re: N. smilesii in Kampot, Cambodia
« Reply #4 on Aug 19, 2009, 3:42am »

Hi,
Any pics of the underside of the lids? Keep up the good work!!
Truly,
Tom

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Dave Evans
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Re: N. smilesii in Kampot, Cambodia
« Reply #5 on Aug 19, 2009, 5:12am »

Dear François,

What an interesting report!

I have always considered this species to be beautiful, it also has very good dry soil tolerance for a Nepenthes and makes really good hybrids, like Nepenthes 'Splendid Diana'.

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sunbelle
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Re: N. smilesii in Kampot, Cambodia
« Reply #6 on Aug 19, 2009, 8:33pm »

Interesting and beautiful. Like Dave, we find this to be a beautiful species as well. Too bad so few are in cultivation.
We saw your sad pictures of the bokorensis habitat as well. It reminds us of what we have seen in Florida Sarracenia habitats.

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Sockhom
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Re: N. smilesii in Kampot, Cambodia
« Reply #7 on Aug 20, 2009, 4:00am »

Hello friends,

I'm glad you liked the pictures.
Yes, N. smilesii is quite beautiful and it sure is a good parent for hybridation.

Tom, I should have a picture of the underside of the lid somewhere. I'll post it as soon as possible.

Sigh... don't get me started with N. bokorensis habitat...

Cheers,

François.

« Last Edit: Aug 20, 2009, 4:01am by Sockhom »

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sulud1
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Re: N. smilesii in Kampot, Cambodia
« Reply #8 on Aug 20, 2009, 4:20am »

Hi,
I'm sorry to hear you did not find N. kampotiana in Cambodia. After finding N. kampotiana in Thailand we headed to Cambodia crossing at Khlong Yai, Thailand to Cham Yeam, Cambodia. Near enough I thought the area inland from Ko Kong would be ideal.
But at the moment I was at the Thai site my girlfriend got a call that her brother was in the hospital sick and injured. We went on to Cambodia but we were not able to legally drive thru. We did not speak Cambodian and I did not trust the border tour guides. So we headed back to Bangkok that day to check on her brother. He did get better.
Below is a map of the area. Standing at the casino I could see the beaches on both borders where the site was. Oh well!
Maybe next time!
Truly,
Tom

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Sockhom
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Re: N. smilesii in Kampot, Cambodia
« Reply #9 on Aug 20, 2009, 6:42pm »

Hello Tom,

I'm pretty shure I wll be able to locate N. kampotiana next time as most people in the area of Kampot know the pitcher-plants but no one could give me an exact location.
I also suspect some of them to deliberately hide the location because Nepenthes in Cambodia is used to make medecine so it means they can get money from it.
On top of that, in recent years, many plants have been destroyed by plantations.
The N. smilesii you see in this post are bound to be destroyed sooner or later.

The Koh Kong island is home to N. mirabilis and, apparently, N. smilesii too.

Cheers,

François.

« Last Edit: Aug 20, 2009, 6:43pm by Sockhom »

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lamwn
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Re: N. smilesii in Kampot, Cambodia
« Reply #10 on Aug 23, 2009, 5:04pm »

Hello,
thank you so much for the wonderful pics!...as well as a very good write up on the Indochinese Neps and taxonomy.
I was surprised, though, that you described the variation in this species as 'quite uniform'!

I'm actually very interested to see more of this 'hairy' characteristic of the plant (since its an important trait used to distinguish the sp from others?). Would greatly appreciate it if you could teach us with some photos.
thanks
Lam

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vraev
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Re: N. smilesii in Kampot, Cambodia
« Reply #11 on Aug 27, 2009, 2:41pm »

Spectacular Francois!! Thanks for sharing man!!

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Ensure that the plant you are buying is propogated by TC from a reputed nursery. Do not grow wild collected plants for the sake of conservation of the species.

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