large flowered butterwort
Created | Updated Aug 4, 2005
Pinguicula grandiflora.
(The word Pinguicula comes from Latin and means small and greasy.)
This is the Large-flowered Butterwort which belongs to the family Lentibulariaceae (Butterwort)
Butterwort species are found in many areas of the world, and are well known to orchid growers due to the fact that the butterwort produce most probably the best flowers of the whole carniverous group.
The genus is widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere.
Members of this family include these: P. caerulea, P. ionantha, P. lutea, P. planifolia, P. primuliflora, P. pumila, and Pinguicula vulgaris
The butterwort can be found in many damp places, peat bogs, swamps, edges of river beds, areas of rock or flooded fields. This is due to its ability to exist in areas with little nitrogen in the soil. Instead it obtains its nitrogen from the breakdown of amino acids in the proteins of the insects it ensnares.
The leaves of the butterwort are green or yellowish in colour, they are thick and covered in glands which give off a slight odour which attracts the prey. The leaves also curl upwards slightly to avoid it's victim being washed off by the rain.
The insect lands on the leaf of the butterwort and will become stuck on the glands. The leaf may curl over slightly in an attempt to increase the surface area contact with the insect.
Mainly the prey consists of small flying insects which get their wings caught in the slime-like substance on the leaves. Crawling insects can normally escape this sticky end.
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Fungus gnats, fruit flies and other tiny insects are lured to their death by the fungal odor of the butterwort’s leaves. The leaves produce a slippery ooze, which traps insects as they land to look for food. Struggling victims activate glands, in the leaves, that produce a digestive enzyme. The enzyme breaks down the edible parts of the little bodies. The leaves then absorb the nutrient solution. The carcasses remain, littering the leaves. During this process the leaves appear to move very little. The leaves of some species may slowly curl or dimple to pool digestive fluids around the insect.
Seven species of Pinguicula can be found infrequently along the SE and Gulf coastal plains. Pinguicula vulgaris can be found as far north as southern Canada. The appearance of most of the species does not vary greatly, with the flower colour and structure being the only way to tell them apart.
The lifecycle of the Butterwort is similar to most other carnivorous plants, it needs a time of winter rest, where the soil is allowed to dry slightly. For the rest of the year, the plant needs to be kept soggy.
The butterwort will discard that years leaves and produce a small rosette like set of leaves which will not really catch anything for a few months whilst the plant rests over winter.
Once the temperature starts to rise and spring arrives, the larger leaves will start to re-grow again.
The flowers of some of the butterwort species are produced throughout the year, whilst some only have one or two shows.
The leaves are discarded after a few weeks, especially if they are getting covered in digested insects.
Since the plant is very low growing, the roots of the butterwort are incredibly small, just enough to keep the plant stable in the ground.
Butterworts used to be used to help turn milk into butter, this involved the digestive enzyme on the leaves
(The word Pinguicula comes from Latin and means small and greasy.)
This is the Large-flowered Butterwort which belongs to the family Lentibulariaceae (Butterwort)
Butterwort species are found in many areas of the world, and are well known to orchid growers due to the fact that the butterwort produce most probably the best flowers of the whole carniverous group.
The genus is widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere.
Members of this family include these: P. caerulea, P. ionantha, P. lutea, P. planifolia, P. primuliflora, P. pumila, and Pinguicula vulgaris
The butterwort can be found in many damp places, peat bogs, swamps, edges of river beds, areas of rock or flooded fields. This is due to its ability to exist in areas with little nitrogen in the soil. Instead it obtains its nitrogen from the breakdown of amino acids in the proteins of the insects it ensnares.
The leaves of the butterwort are green or yellowish in colour, they are thick and covered in glands which give off a slight odour which attracts the prey. The leaves also curl upwards slightly to avoid it's victim being washed off by the rain.
The insect lands on the leaf of the butterwort and will become stuck on the glands. The leaf may curl over slightly in an attempt to increase the surface area contact with the insect.
Mainly the prey consists of small flying insects which get their wings caught in the slime-like substance on the leaves. Crawling insects can normally escape this sticky end.
.
Fungus gnats, fruit flies and other tiny insects are lured to their death by the fungal odor of the butterwort’s leaves. The leaves produce a slippery ooze, which traps insects as they land to look for food. Struggling victims activate glands, in the leaves, that produce a digestive enzyme. The enzyme breaks down the edible parts of the little bodies. The leaves then absorb the nutrient solution. The carcasses remain, littering the leaves. During this process the leaves appear to move very little. The leaves of some species may slowly curl or dimple to pool digestive fluids around the insect.
Seven species of Pinguicula can be found infrequently along the SE and Gulf coastal plains. Pinguicula vulgaris can be found as far north as southern Canada. The appearance of most of the species does not vary greatly, with the flower colour and structure being the only way to tell them apart.
The lifecycle of the Butterwort is similar to most other carnivorous plants, it needs a time of winter rest, where the soil is allowed to dry slightly. For the rest of the year, the plant needs to be kept soggy.
The butterwort will discard that years leaves and produce a small rosette like set of leaves which will not really catch anything for a few months whilst the plant rests over winter.
Once the temperature starts to rise and spring arrives, the larger leaves will start to re-grow again.
The flowers of some of the butterwort species are produced throughout the year, whilst some only have one or two shows.
The leaves are discarded after a few weeks, especially if they are getting covered in digested insects.
Since the plant is very low growing, the roots of the butterwort are incredibly small, just enough to keep the plant stable in the ground.
Butterworts used to be used to help turn milk into butter, this involved the digestive enzyme on the leaves
