Nepenthes lavicola
# Nepenthes lavicola

Nepenthes lavicola (/nɪˈpɛnθiːz ˌlævɪˈkoʊlə/; from Latin: lavicola growing upon lava) is a tropical pitcher plant species endemic to the Geureudong Massif of Aceh, northern Sumatra, where it grows at 2000–2600 m above sea level. It is thought to be most closely related to N. singalana and N. spectabilis.

Nepenthes lavicola is notable for its very prominent bracts, which often overarch the flowers and may be up to 7 cm long at the base of female inflorescences. This species is also unusual in that it bears up to two bracts per pedicel or partial peduncle.

Swiss botanist Albert Friedrich Frey-Wyssling mentioned N. lavicola in a 1931 article as an unidentified Nepenthes species.

   Differences between N. lavicola, N. singalana and N. spectabilis (Wistuba & Rischer, 1996) :
   | Character | N. lavicola | N. singalana | N. spectabilis |
   | Shape of lower pitchers | urceolate to globose | basal part infundibuliform, cylindrical in the upper part | ovate in the lower part, cylindrical in the upper part |
   | Shape of upper pitchers | slender, lower part infundibuliform to ovate then ventricose, slightly hipped in the middle narrowing to the somewhat waisted cylindrical upper part | lower half infundibuliform, mostly ventricose in the middle, cylindrical or slightly narrowed towards the mouth | infundibuliform in the lower half, tubulose in the upper half |
   | Colour of pitchers | usually dark brownish purple to almost black, peristome yellowish green, sometimes with red stripes, occasionally colour of pitchers yellowish green with blackish spots, innerside of the pitchers pale green, in the lower pitchers red spotted | light green to dark red, violett spotted or not | light green, with numerous longitudinal dark violett - brown stripes and spots |
   | Lid | ovate-cordate | suborbicular, cordate at the base | orbiculate |
   | Spur | up to 0.5 cm in length, branched in case of lower pitchers | 2-3 mm, slightly flattened, not branched | 2 cm in length, simple |
   | Spur insertion | close to the lid base | close to the lid | 5-10 mm below the lid base |
   | Floral bracts | bracts very prominent, usually overarching the flowers, some of the lower ones reaching several cm in length | male: filiform bract, female: without bract | pedicels bearing filiform bracts |
   | Fruit | 2-3 times as long as broad, up to 1.8 cm long | up to 30 mm long | very slender, 4-5 cm in length |

Nepenthes lavicola has no known natural hybrids. No forms or varieties have been described.

