Parental Influences in Hybrids

Nepenthes spathulata x ramispina

The fun thing about growing hybrids, especially a number of hybrids, is that you really get a feel for what traits certain species pass on to their offspring. Nepenthes spathulata, for instance, has a very strong influence on pitcher shape and composition. Nepenthes ramispina has a very strong influence on pitcher color, with many of its hybrids a dark black or purple. Indeed, the above N. spathulata x ramispina, could almost be mistaken for a black Nepenthes spathulata. That's almost exactly what you'd expect to see.

Nepenthes singalana x burbidgeae

As you learn about these parental influences, you become much more skilled at identifying the possible parents of hybrids. Of course, it's not always obvious. The above Nepenthes singalana x burbidgeae isn't displaying any real adult traits, yet, although there are some hints of burbidgeae with the color and form of the pitcher. Still, as you grow more hybrids and see more traits repeated in one after another, you start to develop a feel for possibilities. That's really useful (I think) when looking at unknown hybrids from the wild (or even knowing what you're looking at on social media when the owner either doesn't know or didn't label their plants). 

Nepenthes (ventricosa x sibuyanensis) x (inermis x bongso)

Of course, some hybrids are so complex that even expert identifiers would be unable to ascertain their true parentage unless told. I think this Nepenthes (ventricosa x sibuyanensis) x (inermis x bongso) is a great example. While there's the subtle curve of the ventricosa pitcher shape, the color and peristome shape are unlike any species currently identified. That, in conbination with a number of other features, would definitely lead one to say it's a complex hybrid, but unless you were told the parentage, it would be almost impossible to guess from pitcher alone.