Field Guide to the Pitcher Plants of the Philippines

As an avid traveler and nature explorer, I always include in my  journal notes some of the unusual flora and fauna I encountered along the way. I have the belief that your travel is of no value if you wouldn’t include appreciating the beauty of your environment. You need to have at least a little knowledge on the flora and fauna as it may present some interesting story to tell in your journey. Sometimes it is just not enough to wonder on the unique beauty of the places you visit without a little investigation on little things you encounter along the way.

In my recent escapade in Mindanao, I was awed with the rich biodiversity of the remaining forests at the east side of the island. Once, I accidentally bumped with a carnivorous plant known as Nepenthes merrilliana along the road of Noventa in Surigao del Norte. The said species is just being removed from its habitat along with other dwarf tree species to give way to the ongoing road construction. Another encounter was the multiple sightings of different species thriving in a single place in a forest in Agusan del Sur.

Fascinated with their existence, my colleague and I decided to look for a book that shall aid us to pre-identify this interesting plant. With the help of a friend, Dr, Melanie Medecilo of DLSU-D, she mentioned that Dr. Victor Amoroso has recently released a book on the field identification for the said genus. And so I emailed him and he responded quickly on my inquiry.

Dr. Amoroso’s book “Field Guide to the Pitcher Plants of the Philippines” is co authored by a British naturalist and  IUCN Plant Conservation Awardee  Stewart McPherson. The 61 paged book features the 27 pitcher plants that are found in the Philippines. Each species was described extensively with corresponding illustrations for easy identification. In the description, the authors described in details the morphological characteristics differentiating one species from the others. It revealed also the geographical distribution of Nepenthes in the Philippines from the most common Philippine endemic N. alata to giant N. truncata. This field guide would be very helpful for nature and plant enthusiasts/hobbyist, students and even professionals.

The book is PHP 850.00 per copy including the local freight. For details you can email Dr. Victor Amoroso at amorosovic@yahoo.com.

Note:
Identifying anything unusual plants or animals doesn’t mean you have to collect or harvest them from its natural habitat. Some of these are endangered species and utmost care and preservation is needed. Coordinate with your local government unit and the DENR if you see one in your locality.


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