Description: This unusual and enigmatic species has been known only from the single specimen collected in 1957 by the late Dr. A. Kostermans at a remote limestone mountain in East Kalimantan, Borneo. In the 1980's a series of severe forest fires completely devastated this region, and the species was believed to have become extinct. Several recent expeditions reported it to be completely absent from the type locality. In 1997, N. campanulata was rediscovered at a different locality in Borneo. Like the original site, the plants were found growing as lithophytes on a vertical limestone cliff face. Several unique features serve to distinguish this species from all others in the genus. Unlike most Nepenthes, N. campanulata has no faculties for climbing, and presumably needs none due to its cliffside habit. The stem internodes are very short and the plants form compact clumps against the rockface. Only one type of pitcher is produced, and all are attached to the leaves by short uncoiling tendrils. The small greenish-yellow pitchers, which average about 5 cm in length, have extraordinarily broad mouths ringed by a row of tiny incurved teeth. Though several populations of this species have been observed, N. campanulata remains extremely rare in nature. Further research should be focused on assessing the viability of this species in the wild and at potential conservation efforts aimed towards preserving its restricted habitat.

See also: How to Grow Nepenthes