A Pocket Guide: Pitcher Plants of Sarawak

Introduction

Sarawak lies on the west coast of Borneo and with and area of approximately 131,580 km² is the largest state in Malaysia. The equatorial location of Borneo, coupled with its relatively small population, means that despite rapid recent development of some parts of the island, large tracts of undisturbed rain forest remain in number of places. This is particularly true in Sarawak, where a varied geology and topography, coupled with a humid, tropical climate, have given rise to a remarkable diversity of animal and plant species. One of the most conspicuous and interesting groups of plants that are found in Sarawak is the pitcher plants of the Genus  Nepenthes.

With a current total of 25 species, Sarawak has a greater diversity of Nepenthes than any other political region on Earth.

Despite this, it is Sarawak’s sister state on Borneo, Sabah, that is more famous for pitcher plants. This has been due in no small way to the presence in Sabah of Mount Kinabalu, Borneo’s highest peak and home to some of the spectacular Nepenthes species. However, recent discoveries have shown that not only does Sarawak also have an abundance of Nepenthes, but some species are as spectacular and unusual as those from everywhere else. This book has been written to provide a general introduction to the  Nepenthes of Sarawak, showcasing some of the more recent discoveries and the outstanding beauty of these remarkable plants.