Nepenthes spectabilis /nɪˈpɛnθiːz spɛkˈtæbɪlɪs/ is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Sumatra, where it grows at elevations of between 1400 and 2200 m above sea level.

[4] B. H. Danser formally described[note c] N. spectabilis in his seminal monograph "The Nepenthaceae of the Netherlands Indies", published in 1928.

Danser wrote:[4] This new species has only been found on the G. Sibajak and the G. Pinto, two tops of the same mountain ; the Bt.

Lörzing says of his number 8297 that it was a monoeceous [sic] plant ; since, however, in H. B. there is no stem fragment both with male and female flowers, I call this record into question.The next major taxonomic treatment of N. spectabilis came only in 1986, when Rusjdi Tamin and Mitsuru Hotta covered the species in their monograph on the Nepenthes of Sumatra.

[6] Taxonomist Jan Schlauer considers this plant conspecific with N. curtisii, which in turn is treated as a junior synonym of N.

[7] In their 1997 revision of the genus, Matthew Jebb and Martin Cheek treated specimens of N. lavicola as belonging to N. spectabilis.

The glandular region covers the ovoid portion of the pitcher's inner surface;[2] the waxy zone above is well developed.

[9] The pitcher lid or operculum is sub-orbicular in shape, lacks appendages, and has a strongly cordate base.

Inflorescences and the margins of the lamina bear dense, stellate reddish-brown hairs that are persistent.

Its natural range stretches from the Lake Toba region in the south to Mount Kemiri in the north.

Plants from the type locality produce relatively broad upper pitchers, while those from Mount Pangulubao are much narrower.

The species also exhibits great variability in the extent of the indumentum; some plants have a dense covering of hairs, while others are virtually glabrous.

In 1996, Paul Harwood, Heiko Rischer and Andreas Wistuba observed that the majority of prey in both lower and upper pitchers of this form consisted of beetles.

[1] Upon observing N. spectabilis on Mount Pangulubao in 1995, botanist Charles Clarke wrote that he "got the impression that collectors had taken a bit of a toll on the population, partly because very few immature plants were visible".

It can be distinguished from that species on the basis of its smaller floral bracts, longer fruits, and very long unbranched spur.

[3] In Nepenthes of Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia, Charles Clarke mentions an undescribed taxon from Aceh that is intermediate in appearance between N. lavicola and N. spectabilis.

He wrote:[4] The third group, that of the Nobiles, comprises the species that form a transition between the Vulgatae and the Montanae on one hand and the Regiae on the other.

N. spectabilis, from Sumatra, reminds one of N. sanguinea in many respects but shows a resemblance with the Regiae by the yellowish colour of herbarium specimens and by the red-brown indumentum.Clarke suggests that N. spectabilis "would perhaps have been better placed in the Montanae, which includes several species that appear to be closely related, such as N. gymnamphora and N.

[2] In 2001, Clarke published a cladistic analysis of the Nepenthes species of Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia based on 70 morphological characteristics of each taxon.

However, since the study was limited in its geographical scope, this placement may not accurately reflect the relationship between N. spectabilis and its closest relatives.

The hybrid differs from N. rigidifolia in having narrower pitchers with an infundibular base and distinct hip around the middle.

[2] Folia mediocria sessilia v. petiolo late alato, lamina oblonga-spathulata, nervis longitudinalibus utrinque 5-6, basi rotundata v. leviter cordata caulis 2/3-3/4 amplectente, vagina 0, ascidia rosularum et inferiore ignota ; ascidia superiore magna, e parte inferiore anguste infundibuliformi tubulosa ; costis 2 prominentibus ad os appendice folicea ramosa ornatis ; peristomio operculum versus accuminato, vix in collum elongato applanato, 3-12 mm lato, costis 3/4-1 mm distantibus, dentibus 3-5 x longioribus quam latis ; operculo rotundato-cordato, facie inferiore plano v. obtusa-cordato inflorescentia racemus pedicellis 10-3 mm longis plerumque 2-floris ; indumentum parcum villoso-tomentosum, ferrugineum.