What's new
TerraForums Venus Flytrap, Nepenthes, Drosera and more talk

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Dark Pitcher Appreciation Thread

I love dark pitchers with a passion. This thread is dedicated to pictures of species and hybrids which produce consistently dark pitchers. I have yet to personally own such plants, so I will use this first post to list off the many species which produce lovely dark pitchers (mention if I miss any):

Highland

Nepenthes hamata (lowers)
Nepenthes izumiae
Nepenthes lavicola
Nepenthes lingulata
Nepenthes mikei
Nepenthes naga
Nepenthes nigra
Nepenthes ramispina

Lowland

Nepenthes albomarginata black
Nepenthes ampullaria "black miracle"
Nepenthes gracilis purple/black
Nepenthes longifolia
Nepenthes rafflesiana (dark form)
 
Last edited:
Would N. Bongso count?

Certainly. I did not put it on the list, for reasons of there is no distinguishing label between the plants of this species that separate those that produce truly dark pitchers and those that produce pitchers like this http://www.nepenthesaroundthehouse.com/nbongso3.jpg or even lighter. The uppers also don't retain the dark coloring, but anyone with nice, dark pitcher pictures to share is free to do so, regardless of species or hybrid.
 
Its definitely not jet black but it's something.


ramispina x ventricosa

N. Ramispina is great for putting color into hybrids.
 
I added hamata to my list, but did not add tentaculata because there is no terminology that distinguishes the dark forms from those that produce fairly light colored pitchers. Many species have instances of individual plants which have fairly dark pitchers, without this being the norm.
 
Last edited:
I added hamata to my list, but did not add tentaculata because there is no terminology that distinguishes the dark forms from those that produce fairly light colored pitchers. Many species have instances of individual plants which have fairly dark pitchers, without this being the norm.

There's no point in being picky about color "terminology" because there are no valid Nepenthes varieties or forms described solely based on color. Even among species that you've listed, N. leonardoi, while noteworthy for sometimes having black upper pitchers, is not commonly very dark either - most uppers are actually yellowish-green. Some others, like N. ramispina, also lose practically all their color when they make fully mature uppers.

That being said, some less well-known species can get pretty dark; N. adnata, N. alba, the true N. gracillima, N. muluensis, and N. rigidifolia come to mind.

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/61904224@N05/25990723925/in/album-72157668620943886/" title="N. bongso"><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/2/1665/25990723925_aaa707dee7_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="N. bongso"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/61904224@N05/20741401258/in/album-72157668620943886/" title="N. bongso"><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/732/20741401258_14e193aa60_z.jpg" width="361" height="640" alt="N. bongso"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
N. bongso - the colors on the second picture are truer to life.

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/61904224@N05/14514645159/in/album-72157666216172043/" title="N. tentaculata Murud"><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3845/14514645159_1187061dde_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="N. tentaculata Murud"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
N. tentaculata from G. Murud - has not been pitchering well for me recently, unfortunately.

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/61904224@N05/30941674815/in/album-72157666216027703/" title="Nepenthes nigra"><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5647/30941674815_447b06cbcf_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Nepenthes nigra"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
N. nigra, but it's been more plum than dusky.

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/61904224@N05/25311514849/in/album-72157668713881525/" title="Nepenthes graciliflora"><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5460/25311514849_3428df2bb0_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="Nepenthes graciliflora"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Even N. graciliflora gets pretty dark under the right conditions.
 
Chastising of my list noted. Did not expect to get chewed out in a thread meant for people to post dark pitcher pictures in, as well as a list of consistently dark pitcher species. As long as either uppers or lowers are consistently dark for the vast majority of the species, they'll be on the list. Leonardoi removed.
 
Last edited:
  • #10
Fusca x Robcantleyi gets fairly dark
94ac2c79ada3b4495ad1fce9f52c32bf.jpg


Mark
 
  • #11
Can hybrids be included?

N. spathulata x singalana
CsGblmZ.jpg


N. ramispina
Q03XUag.jpg
 
  • #12
Nepenthes bongso

teAQDXm.jpg


Nepenthes izumiae

5aWItsD.jpg
 
  • #13
Hybrids are absolutely welcome to post pictures of, I just don't list them out because of the sheer number of hybrids to go through.
 
  • #14
My dark side:)

N. Lingulata

http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh507/**************/n.lingulata_zpsyyzlxud5.jpg

N. lowii x fusca 'EP'

http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh507/**************/0F72C956-B51E-45CE-9C24-F132DC7E0416_zpstonywn6d.jpg

N. [thorelii x (spectabilis x northiana)] x lowii 'EP'

http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh507/**************/6E76D364-ACBF-4A97-85BF-BFC424B9B4EE_zpsfaoligqc.jpg

N. (ventricosa x sibuyanensis) giant x (izumae x tm) 'EP'

http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh507/**************/A812103F-30C5-42B1-9381-61CB853340B8_zpsth6zdnbv.jpg

N. ventricosa x lowii 'PDA'

http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh507/**************/F2E80C27-1AA4-4301-929A-AEE69AA68A45_zpszquvmnkv.jpg
 
Last edited:
  • #16
exactly! all day i can stare upon that one! def a favorite!
 
  • #17
Doesn't Nepenthes muluensis get pretty dark too?
 
  • #18
Doesn't Nepenthes muluensis get pretty dark too?
It certainly can, though I don't know how consistent the trait is. I believe the plants on Mt. Murud tend to be darker than on Mt. Mulu.
 
  • #19
Your plants are awesome *******.

I also own a sweet N. lingulata, such an elegant lady. One of my favorite!
 
  • #20
Nepenthes bongso
GqzmxAy.jpg


Nepenthes singalana (darkest pitcher I've seen from this plant)
3WD6GmV.jpg
 
Back
Top