Pinguicula heterophylla

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TAXONOMY:

Family : Lentibulariaceae

Genus : Pinguicula

Name : Pinguicula heterophylla

Sub-classification (Casper) : link

Publication : Bentham, Pl. Hartweg. Ia (1839) 70

DESCRIPTION :

Perennis. Rhizoma simplex breve radicibus filiformibus adventitiis numerosis. Folia numerosa radicalia rosulata biformia integerrima; inferiora (rosula "hiemis" ut dicitur) in sicco cepis similia ex pluribus foliorum numerosorum ( 100) ordinibus composita, foliis exterioribus squamiformibus tenue-lanceolatis acutiusculis glabriusculis constanter connectis 10 - 25 mm longis 1 - 3 mm latis, intermediis similibus sed marginibus longe ciliatis, intimis similibus sed maxime 2 mm latis glabris et non similibus filiformibus 25 mm longis 0.2 mm latis; superiora (rosula "aestatis" ut dicitur) pauca erecta basi longe ciliata superne glandulis sessilibus dense et glandulis stipitatis modice dense vestita, foliis exterioribus obovato-oblongis obtusis vel acutiusculis 15 - 25 mm longis 4- 6 mm latis, intermediis oblongo-lanceolatis acutis 30 - 60 mm longis 7 - 10 mm latis, intimislonge lineari-lanceolatis e basi 4 - 5 mm lata gradatim in acumen tenue circinatum revolutis abeuntibus 60 - 90 (150) mm longis margine valde revolutis marginibus inter se tangentibus. Hibernacula nulla. Pedicelli 1 - 4 erecti glandulis stipitatis obsiti basin versus longe ciliata (60) 100 - 150 (230) mm alti uniflori. Flores magni 20 - 24 mm longi (calcari incluso). Calyx bilabiatus extus glandulis stipitatis obsitus; labium superum usque ad 2/3 longitudinis trilobum lobis triangulo-lanceolatis acutis; labium inferum bilobum lobis usque ad basin fere divisis triangulo-lanceolatis acutis multum divergentibus. Corolla subisoloba violacea vel purpurea vel albidorosea vel albida extus glandulis stipitatis disperse obsita lobis obovato-oblongis rotundatis vel truncatis vel raro subemarginatis 5 - 10 mm longis 3 - 4 mm latis basi pilis longis irregulariter capitatis disperse vestitis. Tubus subcylindricus fauce vix infundibuliformiter dilatatus sine palato 6 - 11 mm longus 3 - 5 mm latus intus pilosus infra corollae labii inferi lobi intermedii pilis longis irregulariter capitatis dense vestitus basin tubi versus pilisbrevioribus in lineis triabus irregulariter capitatis retro conversis. Calcar subcylindricum breve tenue rotundatum vel acutiusculum 4 - 5 mm longum 0.7 - 1 mm crassum cum angulum subdistinctum obliquum formans vel subporrectum. Stamina +/- 2 mm longa; pollen (3) 4 - 5 (6) colporatum. Ovarium subglobosum glandulis stipitatis disperse obsitum. Stigma bilabiatum labio infero suborbiculato. Capsula subgloboso-ovata calycem non superans . Semina scobiformia fusiformia oblonga +/- 1 mm longa +/- 0.55 mm lata alveolata. 

 

Chromosomata ignota. 

translation :

 - Soon - 

ORIGIN AND HISTORY :

No data.

Localisation / Map: 

Pinguicula heterophylla grows in Mexico :

 

In the state of Oaxaca : Jovesia, Sierra de San Felipe. 

 

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

 

 

In the state of Guerrero: NE of Chilpancingo on the road to Chilapa, Mina Toro Muerto, Agua Zarca.

 

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

 

 

In the state of Michoacan : San José, Coalcoman.

 

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

 

 

HABITAT:  

 

Pinguicula heterophylla was collected in oak woods, pine woods and mixed woods, on red-coffee coloured soils, from andesit or granite metamorphic rocks, from 1500 to 3000 m.

COMPARAISON BETWEEN PINGUICULA HETEROPHYLLA AND PINGUICULA MEDUSINA  : 

 

Pinguicula heterophylla shows a close similarity with Pinguicula medusina  with which it shares many common features.

It is now clear that there are different features in their flowers and in their habitats. In general, the flower of P. medusina is a little smaller and more slender that the flower of P. heterophylla. The shape of the corolla lobes is also different : in P. heterophylla, the lower lobes are obovate-oblong, rounded at the end and overlap at the edges ; whereas in P. medusina, the lobes are oblongue and narrow, obovate, truncated and rounded at their tips and they don’t overlap. Furthermore in P. heterophylla the lobes are more often reflexed while in Pinguicula medusina  this is not observed. 

The colour pattern of the flower is also different : for P. heterophylla, the corolla is lilac or whitish, with a yellow-greenish blotch on the throat and the spur is light green ; for P. medusina the corolla is white or white with a lilac coloration on the edges of the lobes, the tube is white or tinted with violet with a green-yellowish blotch on the lower part whilst the spur is white.

When you grow samples of the two plants under the same conditions, you can note differences on the phenology of the two species : P. heterophylla has flowers from May to June, when the intermediate leaves between the winter rosette and the summer rosette  are developping. The summer leaves are formed between the end of June and the end of October, after which the winter rosette  develops and remains until April of the next year. For P. medusina, the flowering period occurs from the beginning of June to the beginning of July. As for P. heterophylla, we observe the presence of intermediate leaves that remain until the middle of August. The summer leaves develop from August to December and the winter rosette  is produced in January. This winter rosette  remains until June. Another important difference is the production of plantlets on the end of the « summer leaves » that allow vegetative multiplication in P. medusina whereas this does not occurs for P. heterophylla.

Introduction in culture :

I got my clone from Stan Lampard's collection.  

CULTURE AND MULTIPLICATION : 

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

Life cycle : P. heterophylla has flowers from May to June, while the intermediate leaves between the winter rosette and the summer rosette  appear. The summer leaves are formed between April and the end of October, after which the winter rosette  develops and remains until April of the next year. In October, the “winter rosette “ is formed. The “ winter rosette “ is compact, like an onion bulb and buried under the soil surface. In this state, the plant is protected by a sheath of dry leaves like a skin until the next growing period. (see link)  

 

Some shots in the life cycle of Pinguicula heterophylla (from Concepcion Papalo).

all pictures by Markus Welge

 

(Click to enlarge)

 

   

 

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. I place some pieces of gypsum around the plants. In such a media, plants grow slightly slower but have a stronger root system.

 

Pot : plastic, colour terracotta, diameter 12.5cm, height 12cm.

 

Cultivation : I think that it is important to have an airy situation in the greenhouse. To avoid  air stagnation, I use a fan 24h/24h all the year round. Watering is also very important : from May to November, I let the media drying slightly between two watering. I am watering from above the pot using rain water. Always avoid wetting the rosette. Just before the winter bulb is formed, you have  to let the pot drying. It is important to keep the pot totally dry (bone dry) or you will loose your plant. No watering but an atmospheric humidity around 80%. The bulb can be buried at least 1 cm under the surface ! The mentioned months are indicative and  can change according to your own growing conditions. In fact, when Pinguicula heterophylla stops to produce its carnivorous leaves, you have to stop watering and let the pot drying out completely. Inversely, when the plant begin to produce its carnivorous leaves, you have to progressively start watering again the pot. 

Temperatures : during growth, day temperature is about 25°C  but can reach 35°C when the sun is shining on the greenhouse despite the use of shading covers. Night temperature is around 20°C.

During resting : day/night temperatures over freezing point. The lower temperature observed was - 4°C. I use an electronic petroleum heater.

Flowering period : May 2002

 

Multiplication : I don't know how the seeds look like. The plants can be propagated easily using non-carnivorous leaves separated from the bulb 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 heterophylla, Herbarium specimens in Casper

 

The flower of Pinguicula heterophylla. The corolla is whitish, with a yellow-greenish blot on the throat. 

 

Photo : Eric Partrat

- May 2002 -

The flower of Pinguicula heterophylla, the spur is light green.

 

Photo : Eric Partrat

- May 2002 -

Pinguicula heterophylla in culture.

Photo : Eric Partrat

- September 2002 -

Pinguicula heterophylla in culture.

Photo : Eric Partrat

- October 2002 -

Pinguicula heterophylla in culture.

Photo : Eric Partrat

- September 2002 -

Pinguicula medusina in culture for comparison.

Photo : Eric Partrat

- September 2002 -

Pines forest in Mexican Sierra

Mixed forest of Pines and Oaks.

Pinguicula heterophylla in wild (all pictures below from mentioned location) :

In the National Park "El Huixteco" near the village of Taxco in the state of Guerrero.

 

Walking on the trail, here is a typical view of the the National Park "El Huixteco"

Photo : Ruben Resendiz

A trail where Pinguicula heterophylla can be seen.

Photo : Ruben Resendiz

Pinguicula heterophylla in habitat.

Photo : Ruben Resendiz

Pinguicula heterophylla in habitat.

Photo : Ruben Resendiz

Pinguicula heterophylla in habitat, rowing among mosses in organic media.

Photo : Ruben Resendiz

Pinguicula heterophylla with erected leaves in habitat.

Photo : Ruben Resendiz

Pinguicula heterophylla growing directly on the rock.

Photo : Ruben Resendiz

Pinguicula heterophylla growing directly on the rock.

Photo : Ruben Resendiz

Pinguicula heterophylla in culture by Ruben Resendiz

Pinguicula heterophylla in culture with young first summer leaves.

Photo : Ruben Resendiz

Pinguicula heterophylla in culture with young first summer leaves.

Photo : Ruben Resendiz

Twin flowers on a single scape on Pinguicula heterophylla.

Photo : Ruben Resendiz

Twin flowers on a single scape on Pinguicula heterophylla.

Photo : Ruben Resendiz

Anomalous flower of Pinguicula heterophylla with 6 petals.

Photo : Ruben Resendiz

A flower of Pinguicula heterophylla before opening.

Photo : Ruben Resendiz

A flower of Pinguicula heterophylla before opening.

Photo : Ruben Resendiz

Close up of the flower of Pinguicula heterophylla showing the hairs at the entrance of the throat.

Photo : Ruben Resendiz

Close up of the flower of Pinguicula heterophylla showing the hairs at the entrance of the throat.

Photo : Ruben Resendiz

Close up of the flower of Pinguicula heterophylla showing the hairs on the corolla lobes.

Photo : Ruben Resendiz