Book Description:
Nepenthes, also known as hanging pitcher plants and monkey cups, are the evolutionary enigmas of the plant kingdom. These plants have attracted the attention of botanists, naturalists and horticulturists alike for centuries, and are among the most extraordinary of all flowering plants. This book examines recent research into Nepenthes with an emphasis on evolutionary and taxonomic perspectives, using the well circumscribed Malaysian species as a model group. A working taxonomy of the genus is essential for setting conservation priorities, therefore advances in molecular systematics and recent species additions in the region are collated to contemporize the taxonomy of the Malaysian Nepenthes.

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Table of Contents:
Chapter 1: General introduction; pp. 1-6
Abstract; pp. 1
Introduction; pp. 2
The Botanical History of Nepenthes; pp. 3
Conclusion; pp. 4

Chapter 2. The Anatomy and Physiology of Nepenthes; pp. 7-18
Abstract; pp. 7
Introduction; pp. 7
Habit; pp. 8
Leaf Morphology; pp. 9
Pitcher Morphology; pp. 11
Flower Morphology; pp. 12
Attraction and Capture of Prey; pp. 14
Digestion of Prey; pp. 16
Conclusion; pp. 17

Chapter 3: The Evolution of Carnivory in Flowering Plants; pp. 19-38
Abstract; pp. 19
Introduction; pp. 21
The Advent of Phylogenetics; pp. 21
Resolving Relationships within the Caryophyllales; pp. 22
The Evolutionary Shift to Carnivory in the Caryophyllales; pp. 25
The Missing Link Taxa; pp. 30
Protocarnivorous Plants; pp. 31
Evolution of the Pitcher; pp. 35
Conclusion; pp. 36

Chapter 4: Bio-geography and Taxonomy of Nepenthes Worldwide; pp.39-50
Abstract; pp. 39
Introduction; pp. 41
Phylogeography; pp. 41
Taxonomy; pp. 42
Traditional Taxonomic Groupings; pp. 43
Phylogenetic Groupings; pp. 44
Habitat-Mediated Radiation; pp. 47
Hybridisation; pp. 47
Conclusion; pp. 48

Chapter 5: The Malaysian Nepenthes; pp. 51-144
Abstract; pp. 51
Introduction; pp. 52
Habitat Preferences; pp. 54
The Species; pp. 58
Species Descriptions; 59

Conclusion; pp. 145

References

Index