Butterwort (Pinguicula acuminata)
Description
Pinguicula acuminata is an insectivorous plant of the genus Pinguicula endemic to the Mexican state of Hidalgo, a member of the section Heterophyllum. It is notable for producing flowers while the winter rosette is buried beneath the soil surface. Described in 1839, it was not rediscovered until 150 years later. P. acuminata is a perennial rosetted herb bearing stiff, ground-hugging ovate to cordiform acuminate 22–92 mm. (½-3½ in.) long leaves. These are borne on unusually long petioles (20–58 mm or ½–1 in), which allow the stem base to remain buried slightly underground. The leaves are densely covered with stalked mucilagenous and sessile digestive glands, which serve to trap and digest insect prey and absorb the resulting nutrient mixture to supplement their nitrate-low environment. During dryer winter conditions when food is scarce, P. acuminata forms winter rosettes of short, non-carnivorous leaves to decrease the loss of energy used on carnivorous mechanisms. In this species the entire winter rosette is withdrawn slightly beneath the soil surface, leaving only the shriveled summer leaves visible. 2-4 white to lilac flowers, borne singly on 74–150 mm. stalks, appear between March and May, before the carnivorous summer leaves emerge.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum:
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Class: Magnoliopsida
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Order: Lamiales
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Family: Lentibulariaceae
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Genus: Pinguicula
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