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"Hairy" Nepenthes...


dchasselblad74

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I've recently aquired an awesome Nepenthes Chaniana x Veitchii from a forum member(Thanks so much, you know who you are), and I noticed how "Hairy" this plant is...I wonder, is that an adaptation to protect itself from cold or dryness? Anyone have a clue to this?

DexFC

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I thought the "fur" in the one I mentioned, was from the Chaniana parentage...?

DexFC

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Hey Dex,

I think the hairs help the new leaves unfurl. Seems most species without hair have leaves without petioles, whereas those with hair also have petioles. I think the hairs allow the new leaf to grow and expand without becoming stuck in the petiole of the previous leaf.

Edited by Dave Evans
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Hey Dex,

I think the hairs help the new leaves unfurl. Seems most species without hair have leaves without petioles, whereas those with hair also have petioles. I think the hairs allow the new leaf to grow and expand without becoming stuck in the petiole of the previous leaf.

I see what you're saying Dave, but how come other Nepenthes don't have hair or at least not as much?

There is a cactus that lives in South America somewhere and this cactus has white long hair like the actor Christopher Lloyd and the reason for the hair is to actually capture mist in the air and channels it towards its roots, in turn watering itself.

I wonder if those Neps that are particularly super hairy have a special purpose, like that cactus I mentioned....?

DexFC

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perhaps to prevent predation on developing pitchers?

Interesting hypothesis, because the new young leaves coming out of the Nep Chaniana x Veitchii looks exactly like a Tarantula leg...

DexFC

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The hairs would keep humidity higher around the leaf, and also noticed on mine they help to stop water touching the leaf surface, no idea if that's why they're there though.

It makes sense, cause the plant needs humid conditions to form leaves and pitchers properly...Cause in the wild, these tropical plants experience two seasons, wet and dry....

DexFC

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