Pinguicula albida

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TAXONOMY:

Family : Lentibulariaceae

Genus : Pinguicula

Name : Pinguicula albida

 

Sub-classification (Casper) : link

Publication : Wright ex Griseb in Cat. Pl. Cub. (1866) 162  

DESCRIPTION : (In Casper) 

Perennis. Rhizoma simplex breve radicibus adventitiis filiformibus numerosis. Folia (4) 6 - 9 (12) radicalia rosulata integerrima luteo-viridia membranacea obovata rotundata basi valde attenuata margine vix involuta superne glandulis sessilibus dense et glandulis stipitatis disperse vestita basin versus pilis subulatis longis (10) 18 - 35 (45) mm longa (5) 11 - 25 (35) mm lata. Hibernacula nulla. Pedicelli 1 - 4 erecti glandulis stipitatis singularibus obtecti 50 - 150 (200) mm longi uniflori. Flores mediocres 7 - 10 (15) mm longi (calcari incluso). Calyx bilabiatus extus glandulis stipitatis singularibus obtectus; labium superum usque ad basin fere trilobum lobis spathulato-oblongis obtusis; labium inferum usque ad 1/2  1/3 longitudinis bilobum lobis ovato-ovalibus rotundatis. Corolla subisoloba albida vel roseo-albida extus glandulis stipitatis singularibus obsita lobis subaequalibus late obovatis 1/3 - 1/2 longitudinis corollae subaequantibus basi pilis longis clavatis dense vestitis. Tubus late cylindricus basin versus angustatus latere ventrali parum geniculiformiter incurvatus 3 - 4 mm latus sine palato intus pilosu pilis clavatis globose capitatis. Calcar conicum apice rotundatum cum tubo angulum obliquum subdistincte formans 2 - 3 mm longum +/- 1 mm latum. Stamina +/- 1.5 mm longa; pollen 4 - 5 colporatum. Ovarium subglobosum +/- 1 mm diametro glandulis stipitatis singularibus obtectum. Stigma bilabiatum; labium inferum flabelliforme. Capsula subglobosa +/- 2 mm diametro. Semina scobiformia conica +/- 0.5 mm longa +/- 0.2 mm lata reticulata.

 

Chromosomata ignota

 

Floret X - XII (I - IX?).

 

Translation :

 

- soon - 

ORIGIN AND HISTORY :

This species can be found in the western part of Cuba, in the same area as P. filifolia for exemple.

 

There are reports and records of for P. albida in other locations within Cuba.  According to Paul Temple in IPSG, Vol. 10, 2000 : " it is certain (from recent record) that P. albida still grow in some mountains area between Pinar del Rio and Havana (in the Cordillera de Guaniguanico), especialy by river bank, using variuos species of large plants to provide shade." 

 

" In the east, Cuba becomes very mountainous especially in the region between and south of the towns Moa and Barracoa. Records report P. albida in this eastern area of Cuba ". 

 

It was in 1997. In 2003, Casper published a new species with white flower identified previously as P. albida (Oriente type) under the name P. jaraguana.  

Map / LOCALISATION : 

From western Cuba, in the Pinar del Rio area and few other locations. 

 

(click on the map for better location and relief map)

 

HABITAT:  

During his visit in the area of Pinar del Rio, Paul noted that the area reminded him of Green Swamp (Carolina, USA) but with palm trees. 

 

Pinguicula albida can be found there growing " in small groups, each group carefully hugging the deep shade created by one or more young palm trees. Slightly older palms had no butterwort colonies beneath them, presumably as the taller growth permitted more light to filter through."  Paul Temple in IPSG, Vol. 10, 2000.

 

It is true that this species composed of very fine thin leaves coudn't survive the dry Cuban sun without shade protection.

 

P. albida is " an annual species, short lived as they were dependent not just on shade but on very high humidity created and maintained only during the rainy season." Paul Temple in IPSG, Vol. 10, 2000.

As this species can be found in the same area as P. filifolia, the soil is composed of a thin layer of silicate rich sand over a dark peaty soil. 

 

" From inspection of reported locations, P. albida is also able to grow on the red laterite soils of Cuba, a common soil in the Cordillera de Guaniguanico. But these soils are generally poisonous to most plants." Paul Temple in IPSG, Vol. 10, 2000.

THREATS :

The mountains regions where P. albida can be found " appear to be under less pressure to covert to farmed land. The hability of P. albida to grow at various altitudes (unlike P. filifolia which is only found at very low altitude) means it is far less threatened." Paul Temple in IPSG, Vol. 10, 2000.

 

In the particular location of Pinar del Rio, where this species can be found in the same area as P. filifolia, the threats are bigger : P. albida " are usually in areas less suited to cultivation of Citrus or other food crops. Thus, the plant would appear to be less threatened than P. filifolia. However, should the area ever be farmed more intensively (crops or animals) or drained for housing, it would quickly threaten the Pinar del Rio colonies." Paul Temple in IPSG, Vol. 10, 2000.

Introduction in culture :

Pinguicula albida appeared first in culture in Japan in late 1998 and can now be found in few amateurs's collections. Some seeds also become available in limited amounts each year and may offer a wider distribution among collections.  

CULTURE AND MULTIPLICATION : 

According to Paul Temple and few growers, this annual species is not really hard to grow if you try to reproduce the wild conditions : sandy peaty soil, very high humidity, no direct sunlight and high temperature. This is a good candidate for an indoor terrarium. 

 

This species is annual in the nature, but Miloslav Studnicka told Jan Flisek, that P. albida behaves perennial in culture.

 

Leaves of P. albida are very thin and fragile. Look at the photos below. There you can see droplets of condensed water on the underside of leaves.

PICTURES: (click to enlarge)