Nepenthes Izumiae - Ecology

Ecology

Nepenthes izumiae has only been recorded from two peaks north of Bukittinggi in the Barisan Mountains of West Sumatra, Indonesia. In the interests of conservation, the exact locality was not disclosed in the formal description. The species has an altitudinal range of 1700–1900 m above sea level.

The typical habitat of N. izumiae is upper montane mossy forest, where conditions are moist and the plants experience diffused sunlight. At one location, the vegetation is dominated by ferns of the genera Dicranopteris and Dipteris. The species is most commonly epiphytic, often being found on moss-covered branches, but it can also grow terrestrially over a layer of moss. Nepenthes izumiae is naturally sympatric with N. dubia and N. gymnamphora, and a natural hybrid with the former has been recorded.

Left: A pair of intermediate pitchers with very broad peristomes
Right: Nepenthes izumiae growing as an epiphyte on a moss-covered branch in upper montane forest

The only known populations of N. izumiae lie outside the boundaries of national parks. Stewart McPherson considers the species to be "at significant risk of being poached and over collected" and cites the "rapid demise" of N. aristolochioides, another highly sought-after Sumatran plant, as an example of the possible fate of this species. Nepenthes izumiae is also threatened by forest and shrub fires as well as land development.