Pinguicula vulgaris (Butterwort) - photos and description
Growing on a muddy, calcareous seep on the
shore of a small prairie lake
General: Small insectivorous plant with bright yellow-green leaves with rolled edges, leaves greasy to touch. The leaves are covered with small glands which trap small insects. The leaves secrete acids to dissolve the insect`s body which is then absorbed by the plant.
Flowers: Single purple flowers, nodding, with a 3-lobed lower lip, 2-lobed upper lip, and a white throat. I measured the flowers to 12 mm diameter, we measured a spur at 6 mm long and the entire flower was 2 cm long.
Leaves: Leaves all in a basal rosette, I measured leaves to 2.5 cm long and 1 cm wide.
Height: Height listed in Budd's Flora to 10 cm, I`ve measured scapes to 5 cm tall.
Habitat: Calcareous bogs and wetlands.
Abundance: Rare, ranked as an S3 by (as of 2021) the Saskatchewan Conservation Data Centre.
Origin: Native.
When and where photographed: Took the photos May 27th growing on a seep beside a prairie lake, about 70 km east of our home in Regina, SK and July 4th in a fen in Duck Mountain Provincial Park about 300 km northeast of Regina, SK.