Pinguicula A Week Later

Day 235: In the space of a week, Pinguicula/Butterwort went from bud to blossom and is now putting on a spectacular (if somewhat secretive) show. It is known to occur in only a handful of locations in Mount Rainier National Park, but for all of its rarity, it can be found around the world in the northern latitudes. Often referred to as a "carnivorous" plant, the correct term should be "insectivorous." Unlike the cartoon Venus Fly-Trap, its leaves do not snap shut on its prey; rather, they secrete a sticky liquid which attracts and holds insects while they are digested by enzymes. That said, the edges of the leaves may roll inward to assist in confining insects, but they do so slowly, and do not fully close like the "jaws" of a Fly-Trap. In late summer, Pinguicula begins forming a hibernaculum, reverting to a small, rootless cluster of leaf buds which persist through the plant's winter dormancy. These buds husband the starches/sugars which will nourish the emerging plants in the spring. Pinguicula may spread when these hibernacula are washed free of their moorings or alternately, by seed.