N. X "Black Dragon"
purchase date: 4 / 07
arrived as a large size 3
plant origin: Exotica Plants
photo taken:  4 / 07

Nepenthes "Black Dragon" is from the potted plant series from Exotica Plants. These are tissue cultured specimens that are made to be inexpensive and very hardy. I've seen darker specimens than the one above so there must be a few different clones available. How many different clones are in circulation, I don't know. There's been attempts to guess the parentage and I believe N. izumiae and N. truncata are the likely parents. As with all the "Dragons" they are vigorous, hardy, and adapt to a variety of different growing environments. For these reasons, they make a great beginner's plants. I'm growing mine outdoors but other growers grow them in greenhouses. Some people are trying them out as windowsill Nepenthes with success. It is possible that they may make it into some retail nurseries next to flytraps and Sarracenias.    

Cultivation: easy, moderate outdoors, grows quicker in warmer environments, great starter's plant
Market availability: size 3 to larger plants; common
Species variability: some among the different tissue cultured clones
$ / size: inexpensive $12.00 to $25.00 for larger plants
Cuttings: none available for trade
Sex: unknown