Pinguicula, commonly known as butterwort, is a carnivorous flowering plant. This sticky plant with glandular leaves is used for luring, trapping, and digesting insects. This behaviour is due to the poor nutrition the plants receive from the environment. There are around eighty species of this plant, of which thirteen are native to Europe, nine to North America, and some to Northern Asia. The most significant number of species resides in Central and South America.
These are perennial plants that live for more than two years. Butterworts can be divided into two main groups based on their climatic conditions. Tropical butterworts are carnivorous all year round and located where winter seasons are less or do not exist. Delicate butterworts flower during the summer season.
What are carnivorous plants?
Carnivorous plant are plants that have the ability to capture and digesting insects and other animals by means of ingenious pitfalls and traps. They are also called insectivorous plant.
Carnivorous plants in Lentibulariaceae family
The Lentibulariaceae family of carnivorous plants has 3 genera: Genlisea or the corkscrew plants; Pinguicula or the butterworts, and Utricularia or the bladderworts.
Butterwort: Key facts
| Common Name | Butterwort |
| Botanical Name | Pinguicula |
| Other common Names | NA |
| Family | Lentibulariaceae |
| General Description | A carnivorous plant found mainly in the Northern Hemisphere and Central and South America. |
| Flowers | The flowers of butterworts are held away from the plant as far as possible by a long stalk. This prevents the potential trapping of pollinators. The colours of the flowers are mainly blue, violet, or white. |
| Leaves | The leaf blades are smooth, either bright in green colour or pinkish. The leaves can be anywhere between 2-30cm in length. |
| Fruit/Berries | The fruits are rounded to egg-shaped capsules that open when completely dry. Tiny brown-coloured seeds are within the fruit. |
Characteristics of Butterwort
Roots
The root system is underdeveloped. The roots serve to anchor the plants and absorb nutrients. The sources are thin and of a whitish colour.
Leaves
The leaves secrete sticky substances that help lure and trap the insects. Additionally, the leaves make use of two specialised glands that are scattered upon the leaf’s surface. The peduncular gland produces a secretion of visible droplets on the leaf’s surface. These droplets lure insects that may be looking for water. The trapping signals the gland to produce more secretion to trap the insect further. The second gland is the sessile gland which lies flat on the leaf’s surface. Once trapped, there is a signal to the gland to release enzymes. These enzymes break down the digested components.
Flowers
There is a single flower that has a mirror-image aspect. There are two lower lip petals, a common characteristic of butterwort plants. The flowers often have five sepals and petals arranged as two lower and three upper lip flowers. The shape and colours of the flowers are distinguishing factors of this plant and help determine one species from another.
Diet
The diet depends on the size of the prey. The size limitations are mainly dependent on how much this plant can access. They also acquire nourishment from pollen and other plants that may get trapped on their leaves. Thus these plants are carnivorous and herbivores as well. Mostly the prey is insects that have wings to fly. By luring and trapping prey, the plant receives its nutrition from digestion. These plants do not select their prey and instead passively get them as these preys get stuck on the leaves.
Vegetative propagation
Sexual reproduction happens via the seeds, and many produce asexually via vegetative propagation. Many form offshoots after flowering, which grow into genetically identical adults.
Distribution of butterwort
This plant is uniformly distributed in the Northern Hemisphere. The greatest concentration of the species is in humid mountainous regions of Central and South America. Butterwort may have most likely originated from Central America, as this area is central to the diversity of the species. P. Alpina and P. Vulgaris are two species that have the widest distribution and are found throughout North America and Europe.
Source: Wikimedia
Carnivorous plant enthusiasts are highly fond of butterwort plants as it is easy to grow. Nurseries often grow two cross-species to help combat pests in nurseries. These plants also produce bacteria to prevent the rotting of insects while digestion begins. In Europe, butterwort leaves have been applied on sores to cattle wounds. Additionally, the leaves have been used to curdle milk and make buttermilk.
Propagation of butterwort
Butterworts can be grown in warm or temperate temperatures in pots or by themselves. In some areas, the plants can persist as perennial and grow rosettes, multiplying the size of the plant. The best soil conditions for the plant include peat moss with equal parts of vermiculite or sand. Plants outdoors due best with moist soil or near water. Butterworts do best with moderate sunlight and shade. The plants should not dry out. A dormancy period should be experienced to help it bloom properly.
Care of butterwort
Butterwort is pretty much self-sufficient. Grown outside, the plant can acquire its food. The plant will thrive if the plant receives the proper soil treatment, sunlight, temperature, and moist conditions. The plant is not bothered by any pests or diseases. The most crucial consideration is watering the plant. The plant should not at all dry out and die. The type of water is also vital as the plant is sensitive to salt and certain minerals. Use of rainwater or distilled water is encouraged.
Conclusion
Butterworts are known as one of the lesser common carnivorous plants. As the prey is trapped, the leaves turn inwards to aid the trapping further. This method mainly acquires nitrogen, which is uncommon in the environment where the plant thrives. The leaves are distinct, which helps to distinguish the plant.
FAQs
What pollinators visit this plant?
Bumblebees and honeybees visit the plant for pollination.
A common habit of carnivorous plants?
Most carnivorous plants live on nutrient-poor sand. Hence they digest insects to help get nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
Some lesser-known facts about this plant?
Butterwort was considered a magical plant on some Scottish islands. The saying goes that if the plant was picked up, it guaranteed protection from witches, and if cows ate, the cows would be protected from elf arrows. There has been the usage of the leaves to curdle milk.
Two potential threats to their existence?
Climate change and habitat loss are two life-changing threats to these plants.
One characteristic shared by all species and varieties of butterwort plants?
The flower sits well away from the whole plant. The flower sits on a thin, long stalk. This is a powerful adaptation to sway pollinators away from the plant's leaves.
