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Nepenthes ampullaria Jack (Brunei Red)

Family Name:	Nepenthaceae
Synonyms:	Nepenthes ampullacea
Common Name:	Tropical Pitcher Plant, Narrow-lid Pitcher Plant, Periok Kera, 猪笼草

Semi Shade

Moderate Water

Occasional Misting

Indoor Plant

Suitable for Hanging Baskets

Ornamental Leaves

Climber

Creeper

Herbaceous Plant

Nepenthes ampullaria (Brunei Red), multiple lower pitchers

Nepenthes ampullaria (Brunei Red), corrugated peristome (mouth) of lower pitcher

Nepenthes ampullaria (Brunei Red), hanging plant with multiple lower pitchers

Nepenthes ampullaria (Brunei Red), lower pitchers

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Infraspecific Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Climber, Creeper, Herbaceous Plant
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial, Semi-Annual / Annual-Like

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic, Heterotrophic (Insectivorous / Carnivorous)
Plant Shape	Irregular

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Brunei, Malaysia (Borneo)
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Disturbed Area / Open Ground)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Description and Ethnobotany

Others - Plant Morphology	Herbaceous to semi-woody carnivorous vine, usually up to 6m high or spread. Native to tropical lowland peat swamp forests, Leaves lanceolate to spoon-shaped, sessile (stalkless), glossy green when mature, velvety reddish-brown when young. Leaf tips terminate in coiling tendrils, which under ideal conditions are modified into prey-catching pitchers. In nature, pitchers are partially filled with rainwater enriched with digestive enzymes secreted by glands on waxy internal wall. Lower pitchers usually 5cm tall by 3cm across, globose and squatly urn-like, with short hairy keels on outer wall, and massed together side by side into basal rosettes. Pitcher lids atypically narrow and back-flipped, do not cover pitcher mouth (unlike those of other Nepenthes species). Normally sold in trade as tissue-cultured clones of "Brunei Red" form discovered in Brunei and Borneo. Pitchers dark red (or sometumes red speckled with green), with similar colouration for corrugated peristome (mouth). Resembles the more expensive Cantley's Red and William's Red cultivars.Plant is diocecious, with male and female flowers found on separate plants. Flowers small, yellow, clustered into panicle inflorescences up to 45cm across. Blooming occurs once or twice per year, lasting for several weeks.Often cultivated as an oddity plant in pots or hanging baskets, and in concept gardens for its decorative pitchers. Also suitable in air-conditioned areas, as long as plant is enclosed within humid terrarium. Grows well under bright indirect sunlight. Prefers moist, poor-nutrient acidic media like peatmoss, sphagnum moss or salt-free cocopeat. Avoid fertilizing, especially with fast-release fertilizers, which may burn or kill the plant, or result in excessive foliage growth without pitcher formation. Propagate by seeds (variable progenies), or stem cuttings. If taking tip cuttings, use 4-node cuttings (tip plus 3 lower leaves) to prevent tender growing tip from rotting before establishment. Single-node cuttings from lower parts of the plant are also possible. Basal rosettes joined by underground runners can be divided and potted up separately.Genus epithet 'Nepenthes' means 'no sorrow' or 'banished sorrow', based on the ancient Greek name of another plant that apparently relieves grief and produces euphoria, and used here in connection with the reported medicinal qualities of some Nepenthes species. Species epithet ampullaria' means 'flask-shaped', a reference to the pitchers.
Ethnobotanical Uses	Others: Attractive red pitchers can be used for floral arrangements. Whole plant can be used as unconventional auspicious deco during festive seasons.

Others - Plant Morphology

Herbaceous to semi-woody carnivorous vine, usually up to 6m high or spread. Native to tropical lowland peat swamp forests, Leaves lanceolate to spoon-shaped, sessile (stalkless), glossy green when mature, velvety reddish-brown when young. Leaf tips terminate in coiling tendrils, which under ideal conditions are modified into prey-catching pitchers. In nature, pitchers are partially filled with rainwater enriched with digestive enzymes secreted by glands on waxy internal wall. Lower pitchers usually 5cm tall by 3cm across, globose and squatly urn-like, with short hairy keels on outer wall, and massed together side by side into basal rosettes. Pitcher lids atypically narrow and back-flipped, do not cover pitcher mouth (unlike those of other Nepenthes species). Normally sold in trade as tissue-cultured clones of "Brunei Red" form discovered in Brunei and Borneo. Pitchers dark red (or sometumes red speckled with green), with similar colouration for corrugated peristome (mouth). Resembles the more expensive Cantley's Red and William's Red cultivars.Plant is diocecious, with male and female flowers found on separate plants. Flowers small, yellow, clustered into panicle inflorescences up to 45cm across. Blooming occurs once or twice per year, lasting for several weeks.Often cultivated as an oddity plant in pots or hanging baskets, and in concept gardens for its decorative pitchers. Also suitable in air-conditioned areas, as long as plant is enclosed within humid terrarium. Grows well under bright indirect sunlight. Prefers moist, poor-nutrient acidic media like peatmoss, sphagnum moss or salt-free cocopeat. Avoid fertilizing, especially with fast-release fertilizers, which may burn or kill the plant, or result in excessive foliage growth without pitcher formation. Propagate by seeds (variable progenies), or stem cuttings. If taking tip cuttings, use 4-node cuttings (tip plus 3 lower leaves) to prevent tender growing tip from rotting before establishment. Single-node cuttings from lower parts of the plant are also possible. Basal rosettes joined by underground runners can be divided and potted up separately.Genus epithet 'Nepenthes' means 'no sorrow' or 'banished sorrow', based on the ancient Greek name of another plant that apparently relieves grief and produces euphoria, and used here in connection with the reported medicinal qualities of some Nepenthes species. Species epithet ampullaria' means 'flask-shaped', a reference to the pitchers.

Ethnobotanical Uses

Others: Attractive red pitchers can be used for floral arrangements. Whole plant can be used as unconventional auspicious deco during festive seasons.

Landscaping Features

Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Foliage
Landscape Uses	Suitable for Hanging Baskets, Interiorscape/ Indoor Plant, General, Focal Plant, Terrarium, Container Planting
Thematic Landscaping	Carnivorous Garden, Naturalistic Garden

SGMP Treatment

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Seed or Spore Dispersal	Abiotic (Explosive Dehiscence), Biotic (Fauna)

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Semi-Shade
Water Preference	Moderate Water, Occasional Misting
Plant Growth Rate	Slow

Rootzone Tolerance	Easy to Grow, Poor Infertile Soils, Acidic (low pH) Soils
Maintenance Requirements	Low
Pruning	Pruning usually not needed, unless to obtain stem-cuttings for propagation.
Fertilizing	Avoid fertilizing, especially with high-analysis fast-release fertilizers, as these may burn / kill the plant., or result in lots of foliage lacking in pitcher formation. If need be, use diluted strength of weak organic fertilizers (eg. orchid-type fertilizers, Osmocote).
Propagation Method	Seed, Stem Cutting, Stolon / Runner, Division
Propagule Establishment Remarks	Pot cuttings up in nutrient-poor media, eg. salt-free cocopeat, peatrmoss or spaghum moss. Keep media moist and do not allow it to dry out.
Maintenance Requirements Remarks	If kept away from rain, try to fill the pitchers with rainwater up to half the pitcher's depth.
Propagation Method Remarks	If taking tip cuttings, use 4-node cuttings (growing tip and 3 leaves below) to prevent tender tip from rottting before establishment. Single-node cuttings possible from lower parts of the plant. Multiple basal rosettes can be divided by cutting underground runners.

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Drought / Semi-Deciduous
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Smooth, Glossy / Shiny, Leathery, Thick

Foliar Modification	Pitcher Trap
Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Alternate
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Oblong)
Foliar Venation	Parallel
Foliar Margin	Entire
Foliar Apex - Tip	Acute
Foliar Base	Truncate / Square
Typical Foliar Area	Microphyll ( 2.25cm2 - 20.25 cm2 ), Notophyll ( 20.25cm2 - 45 cm2 )
Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) Remarks	Furry reddish-brown

Non - Foliar and Storage

Bark Colour(s)	Light brown
Mature Bark Texture	Peeling / Flaking / Papery
Stem Type & Modification	Woody, Herbaceous, Runner / Stolon

Root Type	Underground (Fibrous Root)
Mature Bark Texture Remarks	Corky bark on woody stems

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Unisexual Flowers , Dioecious
Flower Colour(s)	Yellow / Golden

Flower Symmetry	Radial
Flower Size - Remarks	Small, held in inflorescence.
Inflorescence Type	Panicle
Flower Lifespan on Plant	Several Days
Flowering Habit	Polycarpic

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Brown
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit
Fruit Type	Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Capsule

Image Repository

Images

Others

Master ID	29130
Species ID	3439
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.