About
A notable perennial herb, *Pinguicula orchidioides*, is distinctive for its seasonal dimorphism, forming sticky, carnivorous summer rosettes and non-carnivorous winter rosettes. It is also unique among American *Pinguicula* species for producing gemma-like basal buds that elongate into stolons for asexual reproduction.
Field notes
Morphology
The summer rosettes feature ovate to lanceolate leaves, 20–46 mm long and 6–18 mm wide, supported by petioles. These leaves are covered in stalked mucilaginous glands. The winter rosettes are smaller, compact, fleshy, non-glandular leaves, measuring 5–11 mm long and 1–3 mm wide. The species also produces stolons up to 8 cm long. Flowers are violet-purple, composed of five petals, and are borne singly on upright stalks 7–22 cm long.
Distribution & habitat
Mexico and Guatemala
Ecology
The summer leaves trap and digest arthropod prey, most commonly flies, using stalked mucilaginous glands for attraction and trapping, and flat sessile glands for digestion. The plant supplements nutrients from the prey to survive in nutrient-poor substrates.
History & etymology
First described by Alphonse Louis Pierre Pyramus de Candolle in 1844. The specific epithet orchidioides refers to its dainty, orchid-like flowers.
Habitat
- Altitude
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- Altitude Class
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Cultivation
- Difficulty
- intermediate
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