N. alata "giant" X spectabilis
purchase date: 7 / 06
arrived as a size 3
plant origin: Exotica Plants
photo taken:  9 / 06

Nepenthes alata "giant" X N. spectabilis is a cross between 2 highlanders. Both parents are equally represented in this mix. The peristome has the nice barring and color pattern from the N. spectabilis and some of the pitcher shape from the N. alata. My plant appears very vigorous like my other N. alatas. I'm not sure yet but this hybrid might be one of Exotica Plants crosses that will be tissue cultured for bulk purchases. They have some names they give to them like "Sabre", "Medusa", and "Black Dragon" for example. Already this plant would be considered an excellent starter plant because it is relatively inexpensive, colorful, hardy, and vigorous. I suspect that it could be grown as an intermediate as well because of the N. alata in it. The overall pitcher size might be larger because photos from Exotica's website show N. alata "giant" to produce some nice sized pitchers that may transfer over to this cross. 

Cultivation: easy outdoors, good starter plant and vigorous grower
Market availability: size 3 to larger plants; available
Species variability: maybe some if from seed; none if tissue cultured from a single selected clone
$ / size: inexpensive to moderate $20.00 and up for larger plants
Cuttings: none available for trade
Sex: unknown