A newly identified pitcher plant that Philippine scientists and an Australian expert said can only be found in Palawan is already facing a serious risk of extinction, despite being discovered just this year.
Nepenthes megastoma, they said, grows only in three known places within the steep karst cliffs of the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP) in Barangay Cabayugan.
Based on their estimates, fewer than 50 mature plants exist, placing the species among the most threatened plants in the country.
Scientists said the plant’s survival is fragile due to its very small population and growing pressures from climate change and human activities.
Increasingly severe droughts and typhoons, combined with encroachment and poaching, pose immediate risks to the plant species.
Researcher John Charles Altomonte said in a release that it is amazing that these plants have evolved to survive in the steep karst cliffs that are difficult and inaccessible.
“And yet, despite their hardiness, their existence is threatened by human activity—directly by way of encroachment and poaching, and indirectly through the effects of anthropogenic climate change,” Altomonte stated.
The plant was first spotted in 2013 but was mistaken then for a known pitcher plant species from Borneo. But after years of fieldwork, drone surveys, and close examination, it was finally confirmed that it’s a news species unique to the country.
Nepenthes megastoma survives on sheer cliff faces, where it has developed features that help it cope with harsh conditions. These include upward-facing female flowers that aid pollination, a fuzzy surface that helps collect rainwater, and pitchers that change shape depending on the season to help retain moisture.
Despite these adaptations, researchers estimate that only about 19 mature clumps and roughly 12 non-flowering plants remain. The team warned that even a single strong typhoon or prolonged dry period could further reduce the population.
The species is now classified as “critically endangered” under International Union for Conservation of Nature guidelines. Researchers also raised concern over poaching, noting that illegally collected specimens are already being sold in Metro Manila.
The study detailing the discovery and conservation status of Nepenthes megastoma was published in November 2025 in the international journal Phytotaxa by researchers affiliated with Ateneo de Manila University.
Scientists said the case of N. megastoma shows how species in Palawan can be pushed toward extinction even before the public becomes aware they exist.
