FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

Does anyone know why lowland neps have larger leaves than highlanders?

could it be to catch more of the sun ? maybe they typically grow under the partial shade of other plants / trees and need more real estate on their "solar panels?"

I was thinking that too. Could it also be to prevent other competing plants down and so they can get the most light and to keep them from crowding it out?

I always thought it was because of the temperature and humidity. If Highlanders didn’t have the temperature restrictions in their genes I bet they could flourish in 100 rh/Fahrenheit.

I wouldn’t say that lowland Nepenthes are usually larger than highland species. It varies quite a bit with their specific niches and the particular prey they’ve evolved to catch. For example, N. rajah, N. palawanensis, and N. attenboroughii are absolutely massive highland plants, while N. bellii and N. gracilis are diminutive lowland species.

A common trend can be seen in many alpine plants evolving red coloration, tough/thick leaves, dense indumentum, and small size to survive the harsh, cold conditions associated with those elevations. N. lamii is a good example of this in the CP world. But note that N. lamii is found at the highest elevation of all Nepenthes, and frozen fluid has even been documented in the pitchers in-situ, so I wouldn’t say “highland Nepenthes are smaller” is an accurate generalization to make about the genus.