365Caws is now in its 14th year of publication, and was originally intended to end after 365 days. It has sometimes been difficult for me to find new material, particularly during the winter months, but now as I enter my own twilight years, I cannot guarantee that I will be able to provide daily posts. It is my hope that along the way I may have inspired someone to a greater curiosity about the natural world. If so, I can rest, content in the knowledge that my work here has been done.
Sunday, June 3, 2018
Pinguicula Vulgaris, Butterwort
Day 233: We tend to think of carnivorous plants as things which live in mysterious tropical forests, influenced (I am certain) by fanciful fiction, cartoons and suchlike, but there are a number of species suited to the cooler climates of the northern latitudes. In fact, we have a few right here in the Pacific Northwest. Pinguicula vulgaris (Butterwort) prefers a habitat of year-'round moisture and indirect light, an environment likewise enjoyed by its prey, gnats and mosquitoes. Its leaves secrete a sticky substance which attracts insects. A second type of specialized gland in its foliage exudes a digestive enzyme which breaks down the soft parts of the bugs into a form the plant can utilize as nutrients. Even when not in bloom, the plant can be recognized by its yellow-green, fleshy leaves which are often speckled with the indigestible remains of its food. Currently, Pinguicula is listed as "Threatened and Endangered" in four states: Maine, New Hampshire, New York and Wisconsin. It should be considered rare in all other localities.
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