Has Nepenthes pitopangii Chi C. Lee, S. Mc Pherson, Bourke & M. Mansur a rare and endemic flowering plant of Sulawesi, been extinct in its original nature?

Abstract

Nepenthes pitopangii Chi C. Lee, Mc Pherson, Bourke & M. Mansur (Nepenthaceae), is an endemic pitcher plant to Sulawesi. The population of this plant at its type locality is only two individuals, on the other hand human activities like rattan and dammar collecting by local community and ecotourism activity have contributed to a decline in the population. The purpose of this research is to assess the current condition of the habitat of Nepenthes pitopangii at its type locality in Lore Lindu National Park. Field work was done in the period of September 2016-September 2017. The vegetation of Nepenthes pitopangii habitat was studied by using botanical exploration methods. The result showed that both location had been heavily damaged due to habitat human activities with no further evidence of the precense of N pitopangii at either site. Additionally, We noted a number of plant species arround the habitat which were widespread in montain forest of Lore Lindu National Park such as Xanthomyrtus angustifolia (Myrtaceae), Weinmania lucens (Cunoniaceae), Vaccinium palawanensis (Ericaceae), Phyllocladus hypophylus (Podocarpaceae), Drymis piperita (Proteaceae), Gleichenia vulcanica , Stricherus truncatus, Lycopodiella cernua and Dicksonia blumei