Shigeo Kurata (倉田 重夫, Kurata Shigeo) is a Japanese botanist and Nepenthes taxonomist whose work in the 1960s and 1970s contributed much to the current popularity of these plants.[1][2] His best-known work is the 1976 guide Nepenthes of Mount Kinabalu.[3] Nepenthes kurata was named in his honour.[2]

Kurata has described a number of new Nepenthes species, including N. campanulata,[4] N. eymae,[5] N. mindanaoensis,[6] N. peltata,[7] N. rhombicaulis,[4] and N. saranganiensis.[8] He also described N. pyriformis,[6] which was subsequently recognised as a natural hybrid by Charles Clarke.[9] Other natural hybrids named by Kurata include N. × ferrugineomarginata, N. × kinabaluensis, and N. × kuchingensis.

References

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  1. ^ Clarke, C.M. & C.C. Lee 2004. Pitcher Plants of Sarawak. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu.
  2. ^ a b Cheek, M. & M. Jebb 2013. Recircumscription of the Nepenthes alata group (Caryophyllales: Nepenthaceae), in the Philippines, with four new species. European Journal of Taxonomy 69: 1–23. doi:10.5852/ejt.2013.69
  3. ^ Kurata, S. 1976. Nepenthes of Mount Kinabalu. Sabah National Parks Publications No. 2, Sabah National Parks Trustees, Kota Kinabalu.
  4. ^ a b Kurata, S. 1973. Nepenthes from Borneo, Singapore and Sumatra. Gardens' Bulletin Singapore 26(2): 227–232.
  5. ^ Kurata, S. 1984. Journal of the Insectivorous Plant Society (Japan) 35: 41.
  6. ^ a b Kurata, S. 2001. Two new species of Nepenthes from Sumatra (Indonesia) and Mindanao (Philippines). Journal of the Insectivorous Plant Society (Japan) 52(2): 30–34.
  7. ^ Kurata, S. 2008. Nepenthes peltata (Nepenthaceae), a new species of pitcher plant from the Philippines. Journal of the Insectivorous Plant Society (Japan) 59(1): 12–17.
  8. ^ Kurata, S. 2003. A new Philippine pitcher plant, the third species having a saddle-shaped stem. Journal of the Insectivorous Plant Society (Japan) 54(2): 41–44.
  9. ^ Clarke, C.M. 2001. Nepenthes of Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu.
  10. ^ International Plant Names Index.  Sh.Kurata.