Nepenthes gracilis or the Slender Pitcher-Plant, is a very common lowland pitcher plant

Pitcher plant

Pitcher plants are carnivorous plants whose prey-trapping mechanism features a deep cavity filled with liquid known as a pitfall trap. It has been widely assumed that the various sorts of pitfall trap evolved from rolled leaves, with selection pressure favouring more deeply cupped leaves over...

 that is widespread in the Sunda

Sundaland

Sundaland is a biogeographical region of Southeastern Asia which encompasses the areas of the Asian continental shelf that was exposed during the last ice age. It included the Malay Peninsula on the Asian mainland, as well as the large islands of Borneo, Java, and Sumatra and their surrounding...

 region. It has been recorded from Borneo

Borneo

Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....

, Peninsular Malaysia

Peninsular Malaysia

Peninsular Malaysia , also known as West Malaysia , is the part of Malaysia which lies on the Malay Peninsula. Its area is . It shares a land border with Thailand in the north. To the south is the island of Singapore. Across the Strait of Malacca to the west lies the island of Sumatra...

, Singapore

Singapore

Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...

, central Sulawesi

Sulawesi

Sulawesi is one of the four larger Sunda Islands of Indonesia and is situated between Borneo and the Maluku Islands. In Indonesia, only Sumatra, Borneo, and Papua are larger in territory, and only Java and Sumatra have larger Indonesian populations.- Etymology :The Portuguese were the first to...

, Sumatra

Sumatra

Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...

, and southernmost Thailand

Thailand

Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...

. The species has a wide altitudinal distribution of 0–1700 m above sea level, although most populations are found below 100 m and plants are rare above 1000 m.

The pitchers of N. gracilis are relatively unremarkable with a very thin peristome and no unusual morphological features. Despite being a widespread plant, natural hybrids between N. gracilis and other species are quite rare.

Nepenthes gracilis was formally described

Species description

A species description or type description is a formal description of a newly discovered species, usually in the form of a scientific paper. Its purpose is to give a clear description of a new species of organism and explain how it differs from species which have been described previously, or are...

 by Pieter Willem Korthals

Pieter Willem Korthals

Pieter Willem Korthals was a Dutch botanist. Korthals was the official botanist with the Dutch East India Service from 1831 to 1836....

 in his 1839 monograph, "Over het geslacht Nepenthes

Over het geslacht Nepenthes

"Over het geslacht Nepenthes" is a monograph by Pieter Willem Korthals on the tropical pitcher plants of the genus Nepenthes. It was published in 1839 in Coenraad Jacob Temminck's Verhandelingen over de Natuurlijke Geschiedenis der Nederlandsche overzeesche bezittingen...

".

Taxonomy

In 2001, Charles Clarke

Charles Clarke (botanist)

Dr. Charles M. Clarke is a botanist and taxonomist specialising in the carnivorous plant genus Nepenthes. Clarke has an honours degree in Botany from Monash University in Melbourne, and a Ph.D. in Ecosystem Management at the University of New England, in Armidale, New South Wales.Clarke first...

 performed a cladistic analysis of the Nepenthes species of Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia

Peninsular Malaysia

Peninsular Malaysia , also known as West Malaysia , is the part of Malaysia which lies on the Malay Peninsula. Its area is . It shares a land border with Thailand in the north. To the south is the island of Singapore. Across the Strait of Malacca to the west lies the island of Sumatra...

 using 70 morphological characteristics of each taxon. The following is a portion of the resultant cladogram

Cladogram

A cladogram is a diagram used in cladistics which shows ancestral relations between organisms, to represent the evolutionary tree of life. Although traditionally such cladograms were generated largely on the basis of morphological characters, DNA and RNA sequencing data and computational...

, showing part of "Clade 6". The sister pair of N. angasanensis

Nepenthes angasanensis

Nepenthes angasanensis is a highland Nepenthes pitcher plant species, native to Sumatra, where it grows at an altitude of 2200 to 2800 m. The status of this taxon is controversial as it is similar in morphology to N. mikei and N. tobaica.The specific epithet refers to Mount Puncak...

and N. mikei

Nepenthes mikei

Nepenthes mikei is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Sumatra. It is characterised by its black mottled lower and upper pitchers. The species is closely related to N. angasanensis and N. tobaica....

has 79% support.

Infraspecific taxa

Despite varying little across its range, N. gracilis has a number of infraspecific taxa. Most of these are no longer considered valid.

• Nepenthes gracilis f. angustifolia (Mast.) Hort.Westphal (1993)
• Nepenthes gracilis var. angustifolia (Mast.) Hort.Weiner in sched. (1985)
• Nepenthes gracilis var. arenaria Ridl. ex Macf. (1908)
• Nepenthes gracilis var. elongata Bl. (1852)
• Nepenthes gracilis var. longinodis G.Beck (1895)
• Nepenthes gracilis var. major Hort.Lindsay ex Dixon (1889)
• Nepenthes gracilis var. teysmanniana (Miq.) Beck (1895)

Natural hybrids

The following natural hybrids involving N. gracilis have been recorded.

• N. albomarginata
  Nepenthes albomarginata
  Nepenthes albomarginata , the White-Collared Pitcher-Plant, is a tropical pitcher plant native to Borneo, Peninsular Malaysia, and Sumatra...
  
  × N. gracilis
• N. ampullaria
  Nepenthes ampullaria
  Nepenthes ampullaria , the Flask-Shaped Pitcher-Plant, is a very distinctive and widespread species of Nepenthes, present in Borneo, Sumatra, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, the Maluku Islands, and New Guinea...
  
  × N. gracilis [=N. × trichocarpa
  Nepenthes × trichocarpa
  Nepenthes × trichocarpa , the Dainty Pitcher-Plant, is a common natural hybrid involving N. ampullaria and N. gracilis. It was originally thought to be a distinct species and was described as such....
  
  ]
• (N. ampullaria
  Nepenthes ampullaria
  Nepenthes ampullaria , the Flask-Shaped Pitcher-Plant, is a very distinctive and widespread species of Nepenthes, present in Borneo, Sumatra, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, the Maluku Islands, and New Guinea...
  
  × N. gracilis) × N. bicalcarata
  Nepenthes bicalcarata
  Nepenthes bicalcarata , also known as the Fanged Pitcher-Plant, is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to northwestern Borneo.-Botanical history:...
  
  [=N. × trichocarpa
  Nepenthes × trichocarpa
  Nepenthes × trichocarpa , the Dainty Pitcher-Plant, is a common natural hybrid involving N. ampullaria and N. gracilis. It was originally thought to be a distinct species and was described as such....
  
  × N. bicalcarata
  Nepenthes bicalcarata
  Nepenthes bicalcarata , also known as the Fanged Pitcher-Plant, is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to northwestern Borneo.-Botanical history:...
  
  ]
• N. bicalcarata
  Nepenthes bicalcarata
  Nepenthes bicalcarata , also known as the Fanged Pitcher-Plant, is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to northwestern Borneo.-Botanical history:...
  
  × N. gracilis [=N. × cantleyi]
• ? N. eustachya
  Nepenthes eustachya
  Nepenthes eustachya is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Sumatra, where it grows from sea level to an elevation of 1600 m. The specific epithet eustachya, formed from the Greek words eu and stachys , refers to the racemose structure of the inflorescence.-Botanical history:Nepenthes eustachya...
  
  × N. gracilis
• N. gracilis × N. mirabilis
  Nepenthes mirabilis
  Nepenthes mirabilis , or the Common Swamp Pitcher-Plant, is a tropical carnivorous plant species of the pitfall trap variety. It has by far the widest distribution of any Nepenthes species and is known from the following countries and regions: Borneo, Sumatra, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia,...
  
  [=N. × sharifah-hapsahii
  Nepenthes × sharifah-hapsahii
  Nepenthes × sharifah-hapsahii is a natural hybrid between N. gracilis and N. mirabilis. It has been recorded from Borneo, Sumatra, and Peninsular Malaysia,...
  
  , N. × ghazallyana, N. × grabilis, N. neglecta?]
• N. gracilis × N. northiana
  Nepenthes northiana
  Nepenthes northiana , or Miss North's Pitcher-Plant, is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Borneo, where it grows at elevations ranging from 0 to 500 m above sea level. The specific epithet northiana honours Marianne North, who first illustrated the species...
  
  [=N. × bauensis
  Nepenthes × bauensis
  Nepenthes × bauensis is a natural hybrid involving N. gracilis and N. northiana.N. × bauensis is intermediate in appearance between its two parent species. It displays the clumping habit and vine growth of N. gracilis, but can be distinguished from that species on the basis of its...
  
  ]
• N. gracilis × N. rafflesiana
  Nepenthes rafflesiana
  Nepenthes rafflesiana , or Raffles' Pitcher-Plant, is a species of pitcher plant. It has a very wide distribution covering Borneo, Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, and Singapore. Nepenthes rafflesiana is extremely variable with numerous forms and varieties described. In Borneo alone, there are at...
  
  
• N. gracilis × N. reinwardtiana
  Nepenthes reinwardtiana
  Nepenthes reinwardtiana , Reinwardt's Pitcher-Plant, is a Nepenthes species found on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. Although some sources have included Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore within the range of this species, these records appear to be erroneous.Nepenthes reinwardtiana has an...
  
  
• N. gracilis × N. sumatrana
  Nepenthes sumatrana
  Nepenthes sumatrana is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to the Indonesian island of Sumatra, after which it is named.-Discovery and taxonomy:...
  
  

Further reading

• Adam, J.H. 1997. Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science 20(2–3): 121–134.
• Adam, J.H. & C.C. Wilcock 1999. Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science 22(1): 1–7.
• Adam, J. H., R. Omar & C. C. Wilcock 2002. OnLine Journal of Biological Sciences 2(9): 623–625.
• Adam, J.H., E.M. Nurulhuda, H. Abdul-Halim, O. Abdul-Rahim, A.H. Hafiza, G.K. Gopir, L.M. Pilik, R. Omar, M.B. Qasim, J. Salimon, S. Abdul-Rahim & M.M. Hanafiah 2005. Pitcher plants recorded from BRIS forest in Jambu Bongkok, Kuala Trengganu, Malaysia. Wetland Science 3(3): 183–189. Adam, J.H., J.N. Maisarah, A.T.S. Norhafizah, A.H. Hafiza, M.Y. Harun & O.A. Rahim et al. 2009. Ciri Tanih Pada Habitat Nepenthes (Nepenthaceae) di Padang Tujuh, Taman Negeri Endau-Rompin Pahang. [Soil Properties in Nepenthes (Nepenthaceae) Habitat at Padang Tujuh, Endau-Rompin State Park, Pahang.] In: J.H. Adam, G.M. Barzani & S. Zaini (eds.) Bio-Kejuruteraan and Kelestarian Ekosistem. [Bio-Engineering and Sustainable Ecosystem.] Kumpulan Penyelidikan Kesihatan Persekitaran, Pusat Penyelidikan Bukit Fraser and Universiti Kebangsaan, Malaysia. pp. 147–157.
• Adam, J.H., H.A. Hamid, M.A.A. Juhari, S.N.A. Tarmizi & W.M.R. Idris 2011. Species composition and dispersion pattern of pitcher plants recorded from Rantau Abang in Marang District, Terengganu State of Malaysia. International Journal of Botany 7(2): 162–169.
• Athauda, S.B.P., K. Matsumoto, S. Rajapakshe, M. Kuribayashi, M. Kojima, N. Kubomura-Yoshida, A. Iwamatsu, C. Shibata, H. Inoue & K. Takahashi 2004. (manuscript BJ20031575) Biochemical Journal 381(1): 295–306.
• Aung, H.H., L.S. Chia, N.K. Goh, T.F. Chia, A.A. Ahmed, P.W. Pare & T.J. Mabry 2002. Phenolic constituents from the leaves of the carnivorous plant Nepenthes gracilis. Fitoterapia 73(5): 445–447.
• Beaman, J.H. & C. Anderson 2004. The Plants of Mount Kinabalu: 5. Dicotyledon Families Magnoliaceae to Winteraceae. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu.
• Bonhomme, V., H. Pelloux-Prayer, E. Jousselin, Y. Forterre, J.-J. Labat & L. Gaume 2011. Slippery or sticky? Functional diversity in the trapping strategy of Nepenthes carnivorous plants. New Phytologist 191(2): 545–554.
• Fan, D.-H., H. Wang, D. Zhi & Y.-M. Shen 2010. CE analysis of endogenous flavonoid gallate esters from Nepenthes gracilis (Nepenthaceae). Chromatographia 72(9–10): 1013–1016.
• Fashing, N.J. 2010. In: M.W. Sabelis & J. Bruin (eds.) Trends in Acarology: Proceedings of the 12th International Congress. Springer Science, Dordrecht. pp. 81–84. Handayani, T. 1999. [Conservation of Nepenthes in Indonesian botanic gardens.] In: A. Mardiastuti, I. Sudirman, K.G. Wiryawan, L.I. Sudirman, M.P. Tampubolon, R. Megia & Y. Lestari (eds.) Prosiding II: Seminar Hasil-Hasil Penelitian Bidang Ilmu Hayat. Pusat Antar Universitas Ilmu Hayat IPB, Bogor. pp. 365–372. Harahap, A.S. 2010. Mikropropogasi tunas kantong semar (Nepenthes gracillis Korth.) dengan pemberian NAA dan BAP secara in vitro. Student paper, University of North Sumatra, Medan.
• Hernawati & P. Akhriadi 2006. A Field Guide to the Nepenthes of Sumatra. PILI-NGO Movement, Bogor.
• Kato, M. 1993. Floral biology of Nepenthes gracilis (Nepenthaceae) in Sumatra. American Journal of Botany 80(8): 924–927.
• Lam, S.Y. 1982. Tripteroides aranoides (Theobald) in two pitcher plants, Nepenthes ampullaria Jack and N. gracilis Korth., at Kent Ridge (Diptera: Culicidae). B.Sc (Hons.) Thesis, National University of Singapore.
• Lim, A.L. & N. Prakash 1973. Life history of Nepenthes gracilis. Malaysian Journal of Science 2(A): 45–53.
• Ma Hnin Hnin Aung 2004. Phenolic compounds from Nepenthes gracilis Korth: isolation, identification and antioxidant studies. Ph.D. thesis, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Mansur, M. 2001. In: Prosiding Seminar Hari Cinta Puspa dan Satwa Nasional. Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia, Bogor. pp. 244–253.
• Mogi, M. & K.L. Chan 1997. Variation in communities of dipterans in Nepenthes pitchers in Singapore: Predators increase prey community diversity. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 90(2): 177–183.
• Mokkamul, P., A. Chaveerach, R. Sudmoon & T. Tanee 2007. Species Identification and Sex Determination of the Genus Nepenthes (Nepenthaceae). Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences 10(4): 561–567.
• Moran, J.A., W.E. Booth & J.K. Charles 1999. Annals of Botany 83: 521–528.
• Normawati, Y. 2002. The effect of stem length on pitcher and inflorescence production in Nepenthes gracilis and Nepenthes mirabilis at Serendah Selangor. B.Sc. Thesis. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Puspitaningtyas, D.M. & H. Wawangningrum 2007. [Nepenthes diversity in Sulasih Talang Nature Reserve - West Sumatra.] Biodiversitas 8(2): 152–156. Rahim, S.A., T. Lihan, M. Baba, A. Laming, Z.A. Rahman, W.M.R. Idris, M.B. Gasim, A. Hashim, S.M. Yusof & L.H. Yin 2008. Pengambilan logam berat oleh Nepenthes gracilis dan N. Hookeriana dalam tanih bekas lombong besi dan timah, Pelepah Kanan, Kota Tinggi, Johor. [Heavy metal uptake by Nepenthes gracilis and N. Hookeriana in ex-iron and tin mine soil, Pelepah Kanan, Kota Tinggi, Johor.] Sains Malaysiana 37(1): 39–49. Abstract
• Russell, C. & E. Ossian 1990. Opportunistic feeding involving the pitcher plants Nepenthes hirsuta, Nepenthes gracilis and the epiphytic orchid Schomburgkia tibicinis, or natural ant eradication, the rube goldberg method. The Orchid Digest 54(4): 182–184.
• Shivas, R.G. 1984. Pitcher Plants of Peninsular Malaysia & Singapore. Maruzen Asia, Kuala Lumpur.
• Siegara, A. & Yogiara 2009. Bacterial community profiles in the fluid of four pitcher plant species (Nepenthes spp.) grown in a nursery. Microbiology Indonesia 3(3): 109–114.
• Takahashi, K., S.B.P. Athauda, K. Matsumoto, S. Rajapakshe, M. Kuribayashi, M. Kojima, N. Kubomura-Yoshida, A. Iwamatsu, C. Shibata & H. Inoue 2005. Nepenthesin, a unique member of a novel subfamily of aspartic proteinases: enzymatic and structural characteristics. Current Protein and Peptide Science 6(6): 513–525.
• Tan, S. 2006. Development of capillary electrophoresis techniques for plant natural products analyses. M.Sc. thesis, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
• Teo, L.L. 2001. Study of natural hybridisation in some tropical plants using amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis. M.Sc. thesis, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
• Thorogood, C. 2010. The Malaysian Nepenthes: Evolutionary and Taxonomic Perspectives. Nova Science Publishers, New York. Toufar, P. 1996. Ještě jednou k Nepenthes gracilis. Trifid
  Trifid (journal)
  Trifid is a quarterly Czech-language periodical and the official publication of Darwiniana, a carnivorous plant society based in the Czech Republic. Typical articles include matters of horticultural interest, field reports, and scientific studies. The journal was established in 1996. It is...
  
  1996(2): 6–7. (page 2)