About
This perennial rosetted herb is notable for its heterophyllous nature, displaying upright, narrow, carnivorous leaves in the summer and a tight rosette of non-carnivorous leaves in the winter. It is endemic to gypsum slopes in Mexico.
Field notes
Morphology
The species has upright, narrow carnivorous leaves with backward bending margins in the summer, and a tight rosette of small, hairy, non-carnivorous leaves in the winter. The carnivorous leaves are bright green to reddish and can grow up to 6.5 cm long, and are densely covered with stalked mucilaginous and sessile digestive glands. The flowers are purple, measuring 2 cm, and appear singly on 9 cm inflorescences.
Distribution & habitat
Known from areas near its type location west of the city of San Luis PotosÃ, Mexico, specifically growing in gypsum slopes.
Ecology
The carnivorous leaves are covered with digestive glands that trap and digest insect prey, allowing the plant to absorb nutrients to supplement its nitrate-low environment.
History & etymology
The species was first described in 1911 by Townshend Stith Brandegee.
Habitat
- Altitude
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- Altitude Class
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Cultivation
- Difficulty
- intermediate
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