Pinguicula colimensis

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TAXONOMY:

Family : Lentibulariaceae

Genus : Pinguicula

Name : Pinguicula colimensis

Sub-classification (Casper) : link

Publication : by Mc Vaugh and Mickel in Brittonia 15 (1963) 138

DESCRIPTION : (In Casper)

Perennis. Rhizoma simplex breve radicibus adventitiis filiformibus 

 numerosis. Folia numerosa radicalia rosulata integerrima biformia; inferiora (rosula "hiemis" ut dicitur) numerosa spathulata obtusa +/- 10 - 20 mm longa; superiora +/- 6 - 10 (rosula "aestatis" ut dicitur) maxima obovato-oblonga rotundata subpetiolata marginibus parum revolutis (?!) superne glandulis sessilibus dense et glandulis stipitatis modice dense vestita floratione 15 - 40 mm longa 11 - 24 mm lata (teste Mc Vaugh and Mickel) post florationem 60 - 120 mm longa 30 - 65 mm lata viridia. Hibernacula nulla. Pedicelli 1 - 3 erecti glandulis stipitatis dense obtecti (40) 60 - 140 (190) mm alti uniflori. Flores maximi, 35 - 50 mm longi (calcari incluso). Calyx bilabiatus extus glandulis dense obsitus viridis; labium superum profunde trilobum lobis lineari-oblongis acutiusculis vel obtusis; labium inferum usque ad dimidium bilobum lobis oblongis acutiusculis. Corolla ringens profunde bilabiata labiis subaequalibus punicea extus glandulis stipitatis dense obsita; labium superum bilobum lobis suborbiculatis inter se tegentibus; labium inferum paulo maius trilobum suborbiculatis inter se tegentibus subaequalibus +/- 10 - 20 mm longis latisque. Tubus brevissimus latissime infundibuliformis sine palato intus pilosus pilis cylindrico-subulatis irregulater ordinatis. Calcar subulatum acuminatum incurvatum longissimum (20) 25 - 35 (40) mm longum tubum limbunque corollae multum superans. Pollen (4)  5 - 6 (7)- colporatum. Ovarium subglobsum glandulis stipitatis disperse obsitum. Capsula subcoriacea erecta 3 - 4 mm longa 2 mm lata. Semina scobiformia minutissima.

 

Chromosomata ignota.  

 

Floret VII - XII (?)

 

translation :

 - Soon - 

ORIGIN AND HISTORY : (Oliver Gluch & Eric Partrat)

 

One of the most beautiful species within the genus Pinguicula was described in 1963 for the first time by the 2 American botanists McVaugh und Mickel. Even collected many times before, specimens of this species were considered as being P. macrophylla or P. moranensis . But the differences either with P. macrophylla or P. moranensis are so obvious, that I do not understand why P. colimensis has not been considered as a distinct species before. Probably the reason for this was the fact, that often botanical work was done by herbar specimen and not by living plants studied in its habitat.

According to the publication, the holotype comes from Mexico, state of Colima , mountain summits near the pass 10 - 11 miles south-southwest of Colima. Others places are mentioned in the publication but is it really P. colimensis as in the past many P. hemiepiphytica or P. moranensis were wrongly labelled P. colimensis and spread among amateurs collections. Since the IPSG golden-age, the true P. colimensis can be found worldwide in culture. 

The flower is very distinct from P. hemiepiphytica or P. moranensis's flower so a mistake seems to be impossible and the authors themselves gave their  opinion : "Except for the thousands of plants at the type-locality, we have not seen any undoubts specimens of P. colimensis. (Mc Vaugh and Mickel 1963 : 138)"

Localisation / Map: 

 

According to the publication, the holotype comes from Mexico, state of Colima , mountain summits near the pass 10 - 11 miles south-southwest of Colima.

 

 

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

The others places mentioned in Casper's Monography are : 

State of Michoacan : Coalcoman and Barroloso 

 

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

 

And in the state of Guerrero : Galeana and Teotepec. 

 

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

   

HABITAT:  

On sunny slopes, on gypsum, at altitude of 500m. The plants grow on north facing vertical limestone cliffs.

TEMPERATURE and PRECIPITATIONS :

Click on the graph to enlarge and see the graph of normal precipitation and normal average temperatures in Colima, Guerrero and Michoacan, Normal values are 30-year averages for the period 1961 to 1990. The weather stations are grouped by region (see map of weather stations).

 

Colima v

             

Guerrero v

Michoacan v

    

Introduction in culture :

I bought my plant in A. Wistuba's carnivorous plants nursery. It can be found in various carnivorous plants nurseries worldwide.

CULTURE AND MULTIPLICATION : 

(North hemisphere, France near Paris, in a polycarbonate greenhouse - see the map -)    

 

Life cycle : The life cycle observed in culture for this Pinguicula consists of two seasons, one wet and the other dry (see link). The plant forms different leaf rosettes according to the season. During the resting months (winter) the small succulent rosette is composed of numerous non-carnivorous leaves. The carnivorous leaves are produced in spring and during all summer. The life cycle of the plant is probably similar in it's native habitat but I have no data.

 

Media : I use a 100 % mineral media : 2 perlite, 2 vermiculite, 1 small sand (for aquarium), 1 fine white sand, 1 pouzzolane (volcanic lava), 1 aqualit (expansed ceramic for aquarium). The aqualit can be replaced by 1 of pouzzolane. Plants in this media grow slower but have a stronger root system.

 

Pot : plastic, colour terracotta, diameter 20cm, height 12cm for forming a colony.

 

Cultivation : I think that a slightly airy situation inside the greenhouse is important to avoid air stagnation. For this reason, I use a fan 24h/24h all the year round.

Watering is very important : from May to September (summer). I let the media drying slightly between two watering. I use rain water poured on the top of the pot taking care not to wet the rosette.  From October to April, It is important to let the media drying completely (no watering) but with an atmospheric humidity of about 80%. 

The mentioned months are indicative and can change according to your own growing conditions. In fact, when this Pinguicula begins to produce its non-carnivorous leaves, you have to stop watering and let the pot drying out completely. Inversely, when the plant begins to produce in early spring its carnivorous leaves, you have to progressively start watering again the pot.

Temperatures : during growth period, day temperatures are about 25°C but may reach 35°C when the sun is shining on the greenhouse in spite of the use of shading covers. Night temperatures are around 20°C. During resting period : day/night over freezing point. Lower temperature observed : - 4°C. I use an electronic petroleum heater to provide heat.  

Flowering period : 

Multiplication : I have not succeeded in pollinating the flowers of this Pinguicula. The plants can be propagated  easily using non-carnivorous leaves separated from the rosette at the end of  winter. You only have to carefully tear out the totality of the leaf including the white base as the plantlets will sprout from this area. 

 PICTURES: (click to enlarge)

 

Pinguicula colimensis in habitat in Colima, Mexico

By Oliver Gluch.

Colima Volcano, Mexico

 

Photo : J.-L. Cheminee

This image in its original context, on the page :

link

 

Typical vegetation of the "bosque tropical caducifolia" with column cacti at the beginning of the rainy season at the location of P. colimensis.

Photo and text : Oliver Gluch

- May 2005 - 

www.gluch.info

location of P. colimensis :

north facing gypsum cliffs with several flowering plants (435 m a.s.l.)

N 19°03'69''; W 103°46'89''

 

Photo and text : Oliver Gluch

- May 2005 - 

www.gluch.info

Habitat of P. colimensis :

most of the vegetation is still "dormant" at the beginning of May; maximum daily temperatures at this time of the year are higher than 30 °C and cliffs are bone dry.

 

Photo and text : Oliver Gluch

- May 2005 - 

www.gluch.info

Winter rosette with emerging flowers growing directly on gypsum rock.

 

Photo and text : Oliver Gluch

- May 2005 - 

www.gluch.info

Winter rosette with old dry summer leaves from the previous year.

Photo and text : Oliver Gluch

- May 2005 - 

www.gluch.info

Flowering plants growing together with an Agave species and Selaginella lepidophylla (only the old dry leaves are visible).

 

Photo and text : Oliver Gluch

- May 2005 - 

www.gluch.info

Lateral view of a flower and an unripened seed capsule (the spur of the flower can reach a length of up to 4 cm)

 

Photo and text : Oliver Gluch

- May 2005 - 

www.gluch.info

Face view of a flower with overlapping petals

 

Photo and text : Oliver Gluch

- May 2005 - 

www.gluch.info

Face view of a flower where the petals don't overlap.

Photo and text : Oliver Gluch

- May 2005 - 

www.gluch.info

Pinguicula colimensis in culture.

Winter rosette of Pinguicula colimensis with remaining summer leaves.

 

Photo : Patrice Charpentier

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Summer leaves of P. colimensis with an appearing new flower. The glands on the upper side of the leaves are also spectacular : I do not know any Pinguicula species which does have such large glands.

Photo : Oliver Gluch

http://www.gluch.info/

-  -

Close up of the flower of Pinguicula colimensis. The colour is of an intensive pink and if exposed to direct sunlight the flower shows a metallic aspect.

 

Photo : Oliver Gluch

http://www.gluch.info/

-  -

Lateral view of the flower of Pinguicula colimensis.

Photo : Oliver Gluch

http://www.gluch.info/

-  -

Summer leaves of P. colimensis in culture in a greenhouse.

 

Photo : Eric Partrat

- June 2003  -