The small, elongated pitchers of N.gracilis appear relatively unremarkable and have a very thin peristome. Nevertheless, the species is unusual (and possibly unique) in that the underside of the pitcher lid bears an uneven layer of wax crystals. This layer is not as thick as, and structurally distinct from, that found in the waxy zone of the pitcher interior, and insects can easily adhere to it in dry conditions. During downpours, however, it functions as part of a trapping mechanism, whereby the impact of raindrops striking the lid causes insects to lose their footing and fall into the pitcher cup below.[15]
Left:Nepenthes gracilis upper pitcher with a Polyrhachis pruinosa ant (A and B), showing the waxy zones of the pitcher interior and lower lid surface.
Centre:Scanning electron micrographs revealing the ultrastructure of N.gracilis wax crystals on the inner surface of the pitcher (A and B) and underside of the lid (C and D).
Right: Prey capture efficiency of the two waxy layers and peristome of N.gracilis under 'dry', 'raining' and 'wet' conditions.
Trapping function of N. gracilis pitcher lid under experimental conditions[15]
Ants being flicked off the waxy lower surface of the lid by the action of simulated rain
The same experiment carried out with an isolated lid held in place with a paper clip
High-speed recording showing a house fly (Musca domestica) falling into a pitcher following raindrop impact (recording frame rate: 428 s−1, playback frame rate: 10 s−1)
In 2001, Charles Clarke performed a cladistic analysis of the Nepenthes species of Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia using 70 morphological characteristics of each taxon. The following is a portion of the resultant cladogram, showing part of "Clade 6", which includes N. gracilis.[20]
When molecular genetic DNA sequence data instead of morphological characters are used to perform similar analyses,[21][22] it becomes evident that N. gracilis is not closely related to any of these 4 species. Rather, N. gracilis is the basal lineage within a "N. mirabilis group", a clade that also includes N. bicalcarata, a group of species around N. tomoriana (several species from Sulawesi, Papua and New Caledonia), N. ampullaria, N. mirabilis and N. rafflesiana sensu lato. The contrast between molecular and morphological phylogenies implies that the morphological characters evolved quite fast and repeatedly, and do not necessarily reflect shared ancestry of the species.
Despite varying little across its range,[20]N.gracilis has a number of infraspecific taxa. Most of these are no longer considered valid.
Nepenthes gracilis f. angustifolia (Mast.) Hort.Westphal (1993)
Nepenthes gracilis var. angustifolia (Mast.) Hort.Weiner in sched. (1985)
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