Nepenthes samar ( Nepenthaceae ) , a new species from Samar , Philippines

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INTRODUCTION
This paper forms part of studies towards a World Monograph of Nepenthes, building on a Skeletal Revision of Nepenthes (Jebb & Cheek 1997) and the Flora Malesiana account (Cheek & Jebb 2001). In the course of studying previously unseen specimens from the Philippines, two collections (Gaerlan & Chavez 26372, 26416, both BRIT), of an unknown species, came to light from Samar in the eastern Visayas.
The ligulate, sessile leaf-blades with 5-6 pairs of nearly evenlyspread longitudinal nerves placed the species in the Insignes group of Danser (1928) which are for the most part restricted to the Philippines (Cheek & Jebb 2001). Further characters that distinguish this group are given in Cheek & Jebb (2013).
The Samar material has only upper pitchers and not lower, which is also an attribute of two species of the Insignes group, N. ventricosa Blanco (1837: 807) which is found in Luzon and Panay, and N. burkei Mast. (1889: 492) which is found in Mindoro. In these two species, both of which are extensively cultivated, lower pitchers are produced either not at all or very rarely and inconspicuously before the plants develop upper pitchers (Cheek & Jebb 2001). Both these species have broadly cylindrical upper pitchers (as is usual in the group), but which are more or less constricted at the middle, while the Samar material has cylindrical to narrowly infundibular upper pitchers. Nepenthes merrilliana Macfarl. (1911: 207) of Surigao Province in NE Mindanao is the species of the Insignes group closest geographically, and in overall dimensions, to the Samar species. However, of the 12 specimens known of N. merrilliana only one features upper pitchers, the remainder bearing only lower pitchers, including those with inflorescences, suggesting that upper pitchers are produced infrequently in this species, the opposite of the case in the Samar material. The two species differ further, in leaf-blade, pitcher, and inflorescence characters as shown in Table 1. Accordingly, N. samar is here described as new to science. Jebb & Cheek, A N. merrilliana Macfarl. ascidia superioria multo efferentibus sed ascidiis inferioribus nullis; laminis ad apicem angustatis (non obtusis nec rotundatis nec retusis), 2.8 -3.2 cm (non 3.6 -5.5 cm) latis, ad basim 0.6 -0.8 cm (non 1.5 -3 cm); margine interiore peristomatis manifeste visibili (non reflexo nec inconspicuo); pagina exteriore tepalorum ad centrum pilis carentibus nec modice hirta differt. -Typus: Gaerlan & Chavez in PPI 26416 (holo BRIT; iso PNH n.v.), Philippines, Visayas, Luzon, Samar (exact locality withheld for conservation reasons), infructescence 21 Aug. 1996.

Nepenthes samar
Etymology. Named as a noun in apposition for the island of Samar.
Additional material. PhiliPPines, Visayas, Samar (exact locality withheld for conservation reasons), Gaerlan & Chavez in PPI 26372 (BRIT, PNH n.v.), 20 Aug. 1996, Conservation -Nepenthes samar is known from only two collections, representing as many individuals at one location, in a nation which has seen extensive habitat clearance, especially of lowland forest. The specimen notes indicate that the area had been logged over. Inspection of Google Earth imagery (viewed March 2013) of the location shows that while woody vegetation persists, the canopy is open, suggesting marked degradation of the forest habitat, likely to be aggravated by being near a municipality (Gaerlan & Chavez in PPI 26372). Although it was alive in the wild in 1996, this species may already be extinct as is thought to be the case with N. robcantleyi Cheek (2011: 678). Nepenthes samar is here assessed as Critically Endangered under IUCN (2001), Criterion D. It is to be hoped that this spectacular species will be rediscovered and brought into cultivation from seed and multiplied by a reputable nursery to reduce the risk of total extinction from unscrupulous commercial collectors of wild plants who have been known to decimate fragile populations of rare Nepenthes by digging them up.