Pinguicula moranensis
Mexican butterwort
Kristian Peters -- Fabelfroh 15:17, 16 March 2006 (UTC) · CC BY-SA 3.0
About
Pinguicula moranensis is a perennial, rosette-forming insectivorous herb belonging to the Lentibulariaceae family. It is characterized by its seasonal dimorphism, forming sticky, carnivorous rosettes in the summer and non-carnivorous rosettes in the winter. The plant is native to several Central American countries.
Field notes
Morphology
The plant is seasonally dimorphic, forming summer rosettes of succulent, obovate leaves up to 13 centimeters long. These leaves are densely covered with stalked mucilaginous glands that trap prey, and they vary in color from bright yellow-green to maroon. In the dry season, it forms a non-carnivorous winter rosette of small, fleshy, glandless leaves. Flowers are single, appearing twice a year on upright stalks up to 25 centimeters long, with corollas that are 30 to 50 millimeters long.
Distribution & habitat
This species is native to El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. It is found in the Sierra de Pachuca region of the modern-day Mexican state of Hidalgo. The plant thrives in relatively humid environments, suggesting a preference for moist, subtropical habitats.
Ecology
The plant is insectivorous, using sticky, mucilaginous glands on its summer leaves to attract, trap, and digest arthropod prey, most commonly flies. Digestion is completed by sessile glands that release enzymes like protease and amylase, which break down the insect's body components. The plant supplements nutrients from the prey to compensate for the nutrient-poor substrate it grows in.
Cultivation notes
Pinguicula moranensis is known for its carnivorous nature and attractive flowers, making it popular in cultivation. It requires relatively humid environments to prevent desiccation, and its seasonal dimorphism means it undergoes a period of dormancy during the dry season. The specific temperature and humidity ranges are not detailed, but it is generally considered a common butterwort in cultivation.
History & etymology
The species was first collected by Humboldt and Bonpland in 1799–1804 near Mina de Morán in the Sierra de Pachuca. Carl Sigismund Kunth formally described the species in 1817. The generic name *Pinguicula* comes from the Latin *pinguis*, referring to the buttery texture of the leaves, and the specific epithet *moranensis* refers to its type location, Mina de Moran.
Habitat
- Altitude
- 800–2,200 m
- Altitude Class
- intermediate
- Native To
- Mexico, Guatemala
Cultivation
- Difficulty
- easy
- Temperature
- Day 20–28°C / Night 14–20°C
- Humidity
- 50–75%
- Notes
- Most common Mexican Pinguicula. Succulent winter phase, carnivorous summer phase.
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