Nepenthes Lamii - Ecology

Ecology

Nepenthes lamii is endemic to the higher peaks of central Papua province in West Papua, New Guinea, including Mount Doorman Top (also known simply as Mount Doorman) and Mount Erica of the Hellwig Mountains. Sizable populations of this species have been found near Tembagapura, a mining town situated at around 1900 m in the Sudirman Range. Nepenthes lamii has an altitudinal distribution of 1460–3520 m above sea level. The uppermost altitudinal limit of this species represents the highest known elevation of any Nepenthes, although Nepenthes sp. Papua has been found at similar altitudes of around 3500 m.

The species is highly variable in terms of growth habit and stature. At lower elevations, it is a scrambling climber that grows both terrestrially and epiphytically in a variety of habitats, including mossy forest, recovering vegetation, open scrub, and stunted lower and upper montane forest. It is exposed to strong or direct sunlight at these sites. Plants from higher altitudes become progressively more stunted and grow terrestrially among montane scrub and grasses, montane heath, or in open sites with little other vegetation. These dwarf ultrahighland specimens experience some of the lowest temperatures of any Nepenthes; nighttime temperatures as low as 4 °C are not uncommon above 3200 m and on the upper slopes of Mount Doorman Top they may fall below freezing. Plants growing in exposed sites on the mountain top also experience very strong winds. Although N. maxima has also been recorded from Mount Doorman Top, no natural hybrids involving N. lamii have been found to date.

The size and distribution of natural populations of N. lamii are incompletely known, making it difficult to assess the species's conservation status. However, the populations found near Tembagapura appear to be secure for the time being due to the tight controls on access and development present in the area. The other known populations of N. lamii are all located in remote parts of Papua and many have not seen human contact in decades. Stewart McPherson writes that N. lamii "may be anticipated from many of the high peaks of central Papua, and the species may accordingly have a wider distribution than is currently appreciated".