User:Attenboroughii/Sandbox/Nepenthes pitopangii

Nepenthes pitopangii is a montane species of insectivorous pitcher plant of the genus Nepenthes. It is named after Rahmadanil Pitopang, curator of the herbarium at Universitas Tadulako, who made the first herbarium collections of this species.

The type specimen of N. pitopangii was collected from Lore Lindu National Park in Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Botanical history
Nepenthes pitopangii was first discovered by British veterinarian, Jonathan Newman, during a birdwatching expedition through the Lore Lindu National Park in 2006. The online publication of his trip report brought the taxon to the attention of botanists, who were subsequently able to examine and publish the plant as a new species in 2009.

Distribution and habitat
This species is known from just one individual at a single locality. It is recorded from secondary lower montane forest situated at 1800 m altitude.

Related species
Nepenthes pitopangii appears to be most closely related to N.glabrata, a highland species also endemic to Sulawesi but not recorded from the local area. The different pitcher morphology of these species means that they are unlikely to be confused.