Butterworts Carnivorous Plant (Pinguiculas)
Pinguicula, or Butterwort, as it is more commonly known, derives its
name from the fact that the leaves look fat and greasy. These leaves
release a digestive liquid and acid which proceeds to dissolve the
insect, as the leaf rolls up to engulf it.
One of the most appealing characteristics of the Pinguicula is the
flower the plant produces. The colours include white, purple, mauve and
yellow, and the flowers are quite large for such small plant.
Many of the 48 known species come from Mexico and south America. The
size of the plant varies from a minimum of 2.5. centimeters to a maximum
of 20 centimeters.
Species
Pinguicula Primuliflora - Found in shaded areas of North America, the
Primuliflora has leaves of up to 10 centimeters across.
Pinguicula Caerulea - Also from North America, the Caerulea looks
like a star with its very pointed leaves. Its light green leaves are 6
centimeters long and radiate out from the centre.
Pinguicula Caudata - The Caudata is from Mexico and has fat, rounded
leaves of up to 10 centimeters long and very beautiful 5 centimeters
wide purple flowers.
Pinguicula Lutea - again from North America, the plant likes a little
more sunlight than the Primuliflora, although they may grow well next to
each other.
Care
Pinguiculas can be grown in straight sphagnum moss and watered from a
tray. Stand the pot in a dish of water 10 to 20 millimeters deep. Wait
until the tray is dry, then top it up again to the previous level. Mix
the vermiculite and peat moss; this latter mixture appears especially
good for plantlets.
While plantlets on the tips of leaves are quite a successful way of
reproduction, the plant can also be grown from seed and leaf cuttings.
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