Nepenthes ramispina in the wild

Nepenthes ramispina is a relatively simple species from Malaysia but with good contrast, lower pitchers being dark/blackish, and the uppers, as usual, being more greenish with a lime green peristome. It is quite similar to reinwardtiana but is more popular in cultivation despite the few clones available. 

The photos shown are from Genting, one of the easiest places in Malaysia to see Nepenthes due to the casino complex at the summit. Surprising, if one can escape the complex, there is quite a few Nepenthes to be found. Also quite a few hybrids with spathulata are present especially by the roadsides. 

In the summit area, the old macfarlanei (now ulukaliana) is the most common Nepenthes. N. spathulata is seen but is the dominant species at the lower elevations. N. ramispina is relatively scarce, but young plants of both the pure species and hybrids are quite common on exposed retainer walls by the roads but mature vining plants appear to grow primarily in the forested areas, unlike ulukaliana which can be found prevalantly in both clearings and forest. 

With the commercial complex at the summit and continued hotel construction, there is clearly an impact on the Nepenthes populations and changes over the decades have been recorded in the local flora. However, it does seem the Nepenthes have survived reasonably well, the exposed areas and landslides have given new areas for the seeds to settle and grow. 

N. ramispina upper pitchers. 

Lower pitchers showing the classic dark coloration. Color gets nearly black in high light exposed areas. 

Seedling growing epiphytically. Mature plants appear to vine very long into the canopy where they are hard to spot, the lower brown stems at eye level can be indistinguishable from other plants, like the prevalent vireya Rhododendrons.

Mature plant transitioning to vining.