Nepenthes Robcantleyi · Plant reference

Atypical colour forms of N. truncata, such as this specimen with an unusually dark peristome, fall within the natural variation of this speciesThomas Gronemeyer · CC BY-SA 4.0

Atypical colour forms of N. truncata, such as this specimen with an unusually dark peristome, fall within the natural variation of this speciesThomas Gronemeyer · CC BY-SA 4.0

About

A striking tropical species, *Nepenthes robcantleyi* is notable for its exceptionally large pitchers, which can reach up to 33 cm high by 9.5 cm wide. It is a robust, shrubby plant that was initially mistaken for a highland variant of *N. truncata*.

Field notes

Morphology

The plant is a shrub growing to 0.5–1 m, with a terete stem reaching around 2 cm in diameter. Leaves are thick, coriaceous, and oblong-elliptic, with a pronounced petiole that can reach 23 cm in length. Mature pitchers are broadly cylindrical, measuring up to 33.0 cm high by 9.5 cm wide.

Distribution & habitat

Endemic to the Philippine island of Mindanao.

Cultivation notes

The species is reported to be an easy grower and does well in typical Nepenthes highland conditions, requiring warm days up to 25 °C, cool nights down to 12 °C, and high light levels. A pitcher-to-leaf size ratio greater than 1 can be achieved in cultivation.

History & etymology

Discovered by Robert Cantley in January 1997 on Mindanao. The specific epithet robcantleyi was chosen to honour Robert Cantley, avoiding confusion with the previously used, invalid name N. × cantleyi.