26 



J. M. Macfarlane. — Ncpenthaceac. 



remaindcr are common to Borneo, Malaya and even more distant parts. Eight spccies 

 occur in Ihe Malay Peninsula, of which two are alone restricted to that area. Eight 

 to ten species are reported from N. Australia, but as yet only three from New Guinea. 

 A more intimate knowledge of its flora will probably increase the number greatly from 

 the latter island. Some of the older records and determinations are probably incorrect 

 for species from the Philippines, but at least seven to nine are found there of which 

 most are endemic. N. maxima is found in the Celebes, Borneo and N. Guinea, N. 

 Vieillardii in N. Caledonia, N. distülatoria in Ceylon, N. khasiana in N. E. Bengal, 

 N. Smilesii in Siam, N. anamensis in Anam, N. Pervillei in the Seychelle Islands, and 

 N. madagascariensis — the species most widely removed geographically from the 

 centre of the group at the present day — in Madagascar. The most widely distributed 



alt. 7JJOO feet 



Seil 



le&el 



Fig. \ 2. Diagram showing hot and cold air currents on the sides of Mount Kina Balu in 

 Borneo, meeting and condensing at the Nepenthes zone. (Adapted from Burbidge.) 



species is N. phyllamphora which ranges from S. E. China to Malaya, Sumatra, Borneo, 

 New Guinea, and in Australia is represented by the closely related geographical species 

 N. Kennedyana and N. albo-lineata. Bather more restricted in ränge are N. gracilis, 

 N. ampullaria and N. Rafflesiana. 



Systematic Relations (Verwandtschaftliche Beziehungen). The Nepenthaceae 

 have been viewed by some botanists as related to the Cytinaeeae and Aristolochiaceae. 

 Thus Brongniart grouped them as a section of the Cytineae, and Link as a section 

 of the Aristolochiaceae. The incomplete flowers, united stamens, extrorse anthers, 

 radiating sessile stigmas, several-celled ovary and numerous seeds suggested points of 

 morphological agreement. But the morphology of the leaves, the tetramerous or tri— 

 merous dioecious flowers, the superior ovary and the albuminous seeds constitute im- 

 portant differences. As successively suggested by Lindley, Eichler, Engler and the 

 writer, very close affinities are shown with the Sarraceniaceae, particularly through the 

 genus Heliamphora of the latter order. The Nepenthaceae and Sarraceniaceae again 

 have considerable affinities with the Droseraceae, and all of these secm to stand in 

 intermediate relation between the Papaveraceae and Cistaceae. 



Uses (Nutzen). In Borneo the natives utilize the long flexible stems of such 

 species as N. ampullaria and N. Rafflesiana for cordage in binding the bamboos of 

 bridges. Several Bornean travellers state that the pitchers are used as cooking dishes 

 for rice and other food. The liquid of the more recently opened pitchers seems fre- 

 quently to be drunk by the natives, as it has also at times been by travellers. As 

 objects of horticultural interest and scientific study, the different species already intro- 

 duced into cultivation, have had a large sale, but the beautiful hybrids that have been 

 produced artificially have been more extensively grown and sold. 



