Nepenthes talangensis

Description

Nepenthes talangensis is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Sumatra, where it grows in upper montane forest at elevations of 1800–2500 m above sea level. The specific epithet talangensis is derived from the name of Mount Talang, to which it is endemic, and the Latin ending -ensis, meaning "from". Nepenthes talangensis is a climbing plant growing to a height of 3 m. The stem is up to 0.5 cm in diameter and has internodes up to 10 cm long that are cylindrical-angular in cross section. The stem may be branched and is yellowish-green in colour. Leaves are coriaceous and sessile. The lamina (leaf blade) varies in shape and may be linear, lanceolate, or slightly spathulate. It measures up to 16 cm in length by 3 cm in width. The lamina has an acute or obtuse apex and an attenuate base that clasps the stem. Two to three longitudinal veins are present on either side of the midrib. Pinnate veins are irregularly reticulate. Tendrils are up to 30 cm long. The lamina is dark green throughout, whereas the midrib and tendril are yellowish-green like the stem. Rosette and lower pitchers are only produced briefly before the plant starts to climb. They are either entirely ovate or only ovate in the upper half and infundibular below. They often narrow just below the peristome. Terrestrial pitchers grow to 10 cm in height by 6 cm in width. A pair of fringed wings (≤10 mm wide) usually runs down the ventral surface of the trap, bearing filaments up to 8 mm long, although these wings may be absent altogether or only extend for a portion of the trap's length. The pitcher mouth is round and positioned horizontally in the front two-thirds, rising at the rear to form a short neck. The peristome is flattened, strongly incurved, and measures up to 15 mm in width. It bears ribs up to 0.8 mm high and spaced up to 1 mm apart. These ribs terminate in distinct teeth (≤3 mm long) on the inner margin of the peristome. The inner portion of the peristome accounts for around 78% of its total cross-sectional surface length. The peristome forms a short neck at the rear, where the teeth form two parallel rows. The inner surface is wholly glandular; there is no waxy zone. The pitcher lid or operculum is ovate to elliptic and has a cordate base. It measures up to 6 cm in length by 5 cm in width. It bears no appendages on its lower surface. A flattened spur measuring up to 5 mm in length is inserted near the base of the lid.