Pinguicula pumila

Pinguicula pumila, commonly known as the small butterwort or dwarf butterwort is a small species of carnivorous plant in the genus Pinguicula. It is native to the southeastern United States, where it grows in habitats where soil is poor in nutrition. [1][2]

Pinguicula pumila
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lentibulariaceae
Genus: Pinguicula
Species:
P. pumila
Binomial name
Pinguicula pumila
Michx.

Description

The plant grows as a small rosette of leaves, which rarely get larger than 3/4 of an inch (20mm) across.[3] The leaves have inward curling margins, and the upper surface is covered in numerous tiny hairs with glands at their tip which secrete small drops of mucilage. The plant produces single white to pale violet flowers on the ends of stalks about 6-8 inches (150-200 mm) high.[1] Like all butterworts, the flowers are zygomorphic, and have a spur extending from the back of the flower.

Carnivory

Insects can become trapped in the numerous sticky glads that cover the leaves, and the plant will secrete enzymes to digest them. Over time, the plant assimilates organic nitrogen and other nutrients from the decaying insect into its own tissues.

Habitat

The plant can be found growing in moist, sandy soil in pinelands and savannas, from the southeastern US, into the great plains to Oklahoma.[2]

References
  1. "Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Pinguicula pumila". www.wildflower.org. The University of Texas at Austin. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  2. "Plants Profile for Pinguicula pumila (small butterwort)". plants.usda.gov. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  3. D'Amato, Peter (1998). The savage garden : cultivating carnivorous plants. Ten Speed Press. p. 199. ISBN 978-0-89815-915-8.


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