Giants from the Jungle

Meilfin Roza's eye balls were unwince when he saw a 2 m high nepenthes carrying 22 large pitchers. 'It is for me,' Melfin said. However, it was not easy for the man who is addicted to monkey jar since he was in college to get the idol. There was also a Malaysian competitor who was also enchanted by Nepenthes bicalcarata. After bargaining, the shipping service businessman got the heart devotee by spending Rp12-million.
It was for a reason why Meilfin was enamored by Nepenthes bicalcarata. The one which was found in Sanggau, West Kalimantan, has 22 leaves sized 65 cm x 12 cm. Each leaf carrying giant pitchers 25 cm tall. The pitcher diameter is up to 16 cm, equal to a glass circle. The nepenthes pitchers from lowland which are embelished by yellow, violet, and red colours is more interesting.
The nepenthes which has 2 canines behind the pitcher lid is actually not the biggest. There is nepenthes rajah which pitcher can reach 35 cm high and 14 cm diameter. The borneo endemic ketakung is sensible to be crowned as the biggest pitcher nepenthes. In addition, it has a pretty performance. The pitcher lip is big and curved as if a red shell. Its pitcher lid is big as if a dome. The inner part of the pitcher is yellow up to purple, the outer part is dark red or purple. It is obvious that highland entuyut which is also adaptive to 0-2.000 m above sea level elevation becomes the collectors' target.Many varieties
When visiting MA Suska's nursery in Ciawi, Bogor, Trubus saw giant Nepenthes rafflesiana. When the length was measured it reached 30 cm long. The pitcher looks more dominant than the leaves which were only 16 cm.
In dr Purbo Djojokusumo's nursery, Ciawi, there is N. reinwardtiana with giant pitchers. The pitchers length is over a hand span. The shape is slender because the pitcher width is less than 3 cm. With 2 dots resembling eye ball on the inner part of the pitcher, the lowland kantong beruk is easily recognized. Nepenthes northiana on the garden is even much bigger. The 40 cm long and the 12 cm diameter pitchers mesmerize every ones' eyes.
Seeming to be unwanted to be inferior, N. truncata, N. adrianii, and N. jacqueline also perform jumbo pitchers. From Trubus track output, there are at least 8 giant pitcher nephenteses. They charm the kantong beruk devotees.

N. bicalcarata
Origin/ habitat: Kalimantan, mossy swamp forest in Brunei, and Serawak
Height: Creeping up to 20 m
pitcher length:? 25 cm
pitcher width: ? 16 cm, the lower pitchers become small and narrow
pitcher lid: heart shape 2,5-3,5 cm long and 4-5 cm wide
Leaves size: 20-65 cm long and 6-12 cm wide
Distinctive feature: Has 2 long thorns which sticks out of the lid base and has giant nectar gland

N. rajah
Origin/ habitat
Kinabalu mountain, Kalimantan. Grow on the highland 1.650-2.700 m above sea level elevation
pitcher length
20-35 cm
pitcher width
11-14 cm
pitcher lid
round egg shape 15-22 cm long and 11-16 cm wide
Leaves size
25-50 cm long and 10-15 cm wide
Distinctive feature
The pitcher lid is wider than the red and purple pitcher lip
N. adrianii
Origin/ Habitat
Java endemic and grow on the highland over 1.100 m above sea level elevation
pitcher length
20 cm
pitcher width
7 cm
pitcher lid
8 cm long and 3 cm wide
Distinctive feature
One of the living epifit. Wide lip
N. truncata
Origin/ Habitat
Mindanao island endemic, Philippine on 0-2.000 above the sea level height
pitcher length
30 cm
pitcher width
6 cm
pitcher lid
Triangle shape 5 cm long and 2,5 cm wide
Distinctive feature
Yield pitchers as if a short and thick monster. The lower pitchers cylindric shape with a small lid. A heart shape leaves.
N. reinwardtiana
Origin/ habitat
Spreading in Sumatera, Bangka Belitung, Kalimantan, Malaysian peninsula (Pahang), Serawak, and Singapore. Grow on the lowland, 0-2.100 m above sea level elevation
Height
? 20 cm
pitcher length
5-15 cm
pitcher width
1/2 - 1/3 of pitcher long, wide and narrowing 1-2 cm upward
Leaves size
6-20 cm long and 2-4 cm wide
Distinctive feature
Having eyes (spots) on the inner side of the pitcher, bright green pitcher
N. rafflesiana
Origin/ Habitat
Found in Sumatera, Kalimantan, Peninsula Malaysia, and Singapore. Grow on 0-1.000 m above sea level elevation area.
Height
Climbing up to 4 m
pitcher length
10-25 cm
pitcher width
3-7 cm
pitcher lip width
2,5 cm
pitcher lid
Round egg shape with 6-11 cm long and 4-8 cm wide
Leaves size
16 cm long and 3-6 cm wide
Distinctive feature
Varied colours from bright green and cream embellished by red or clear purple spots
N. northiana
Origin/ Habitat
Borneo and Malaysia on the lowland, 0-500 m above sea level
pitcher size
Funnel shaped with 40 cm long and 12 cm diameter
Leaves size
15-25 cm long and 3-10 cm wide
pitcher lid
tapering shaped sized 2-10 cm. Sharp end and round bottom
Distinctive feature
The pitcher colour is the combination of green and white with bright red spots
N. jacqueline
Origin/ Habitat
Sumatera and grow on the highland, 1.700-2.200 m above sea level
pitcher length
15 cm
Width
10 cm
Distinctive feature
Round shaped, and compact resembling a short water jar