Nepenthes flava is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to northern Sumatra, formally described in 2007 by Wistuba, Nerz, and Fleischmann. The name flava comes from the Latin word for “yellow,” referencing the plant’s bright yellow upper pitchers and vegetative parts. It was known in cultivation before its formal description under the placeholder name Nepenthes spec. nov. Sumatra.
Habitat Overview: Climate and Soil
This species grows in montane forest environments at elevations between 1,800 and 2,200 meters above sea level. The climate is cool, humid, and cloud-covered, with frequent rainfall. N. flava thrives in nutrient-poor, acidic soils, often among moss and leaf litter.
Natural Range and Distribution
Nepenthes flava is restricted to northern Sumatra, where it grows in isolated montane regions. Its limited distribution and specialized habitat make it vulnerable to environmental changes, although its conservation status has not been formally assessed. It may represent an intermediate form between N. ovata and N. inermis, supporting Danser’s hypothesis of species continuity in the region.
Physical Characteristics
Nepenthes flava is a climbing plant that can reach up to 6 meters in height. It transitions quickly from a rosette stage to a scrambling vine. The stem is slender (around 3 mm in diameter) and may be branched, with internodes up to 14 cm long. Leaves are linear to narrowly obovate, up to 9 cm long, and clasp the stem. The pitchers are typically entirely yellow, with broad, wavy peristomes, small peristome teeth, and a narrowly ovate or elliptic lid that lacks appendages or may have a small basal crest. Tendrils can reach up to 24 cm in length.
Similar Species and Differentiation
Nepenthes flava is morphologically similar to:
- N. ovata: but differs in pitcher coloration and lid structure.
- N. inermis: shares pitcher shape but N. flava has a broader peristome and visible lid.
- N. dubia and N. singalana: but N. flava is distinguished by its entirely yellow pitchers, wavy peristome, and lack of lid appendages.
These features make N. flava a distinct and visually unique member of the Sumatran Nepenthes group.