Pinguicula leptoceras Reichenbach

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TAXONOMY:

Family : Lentibulariaceae

Genus : Pinguicula

Name : Pinguicula leptoceras

Sub-classification (Casper) : link

Publication : Reichenbach in Pl. crit. 1 (1823) 69

DESCRIPTION :  

 

Perennis. Rhizoma simplex breve radicibus adventitiis numerosis filiformibus. Folia 5 - 8 (vel plures) radicalia rosulata integerrima circuitu oblonga vel ovato-oblonga apice rotundata vel obtusa sessilia vel subpetiolata margine vix involuta, superne glandulis sesilibus stipittisque +/- dens obsita (19) 25 - 40 (65) mm longa (6) 10 - 16 (22) mm lata laete viridia. Hibernacula. Pedicelli 1 - 6 erecti glandulis stipitatis modice dense obsiti (13) 40 - 100 (133) mm alti uniflori. Flores mediocres (10) 16 - 25 (31) mm longi (calcari incluso). Calyx bilabiatus extus glandulis stipitatis disperse obsitus; labium superum trilobum loborum numerus raro amplificatus lobis triangulariter ligulatis acutis vel oblongo-obtusis incisionibus latis sejunctis lobo intermedio lobis lateralibus saepe mult latiore saepe irregulariter dentato vel emarginato; labium inferum bilobum lobis fere lanceolatis angustissimis acutis vel raro oblongo-obtusis multum divergentibus usque ad basin fere seiunctis. Corolla bilabiata caerulea albido-maculata raro albescens extus glandulis stpitatis singularibus obsita; labium superum bilobum lobis ovato-obtusis; labium inferum trilobum lobis latissimis obovatis vel suborbiculatis rotundatis inter se multum tegentibus. Tubus infundibuliformis quidquam latior quam longus intus pilosus pilis longis clavatis capitatis. Calcar cylindricum rectum vel inclinatum obtusum breve (1) 4 - 6 (9) mm longum tertia partem tubi limbique corollae vix superans. Stamina +/- 2 mm longa; pollen (5) - 6 - (7) - colporatum. Ovarium subglobosum +/- 2 mm dia. glandulis stipitatis dense obsitum. Stigma bilabiatum labio infero flabelliformi fimbriato inferne piloso superne papilloso. Capsula ovoidea. Semina scobiformia fusiformia +/- 0.7 - 0.8 mm longa, 0.2 - 0.3 mm lata alveolata. 

 

Chromosomata 2 n = 32.

 

Floret V - VIII

 

Holotypus : In Monte Grimsel in Helvetia 

 

Translation :

 

- soon - 

ORIGIN AND HISTORY :

Jurg Steiger in "Pinguicula (Lentibulariaceae) : The cool climate species of the northern hemisphere - Morphology, Biology, Cultivation" a text from the second conference of the International Carnivorous Plants Society, Bonn (Germany), May 30 - June 1st, 1998 wrote : 

"Pinguicula leptoceras can be found in the Alps of western Austria, northern and northwestern Italy, Switzerland and Southeastern France." 

 

" It is not clear why Reichenbach named this species 'leptoceras' (= slender-spurred) as the spur is often conspicuously wide and thick, even at the holotype where I investigated hundreds of flowers."

 

"At many sites flowers with 6 or 7 corolla lobes and calyx tips are very frequent. In the eastern distribution range the flowers are usually one-colored dark blue-violet or with 1-3 small white spots on the lower corolla lobes, at the holotype site in central Switzerland most specimens have three distinct white spots, and in the Maritime Alps, the flowers are pale blue with three large white spots." 

 

"P. leptoceras belongs to the group of tetraploids (2n=32), meaning that it is likely to be a younger species."

 

"P. leptoceras was also recorded from the Apuanian Alps in Italy. I have visited one of the indicated subalpine, almost alpine, sites (above Carrara) and what I found was clearly neither P. leptoceras nor P. longifolia subsp. reichenbachiana. Probably P. leptoceras is restricted to the Alps sensu strictu. The Apuanian Pinguiculas need further investigation."

Localisation / Map: 

Pinguicula leptoceras can be found in the Alps of western Austria, northern and northwestern Italy, Switzerland and Southeastern France. 

P. leptoceras was also recorded in the Apuanian Alps in Italy but according to J.Steiger, the plants he found there were clearly not P. leptoceras. More about this in the "Origin and History" chapter above. 

 

 

The impressive Alps mountains from left to right. 

 

Map by : 

http://rst.gsfc.nasa.gov/Sect7/Sect7_3.html

 

(click on the map for better location and relief map)

HABITAT: 

P. leptoceras can be found on wet sualpine and alpine sites in the Alps of western Austria, northern and northwestern Italy, Switzerland and southeastern France at altitude between 1800m to 3000m. 

Its habitats are sunny and sometimes exposed to wind.

It can be found on calcareous soil (Maritims alps in France) or in moist silicate soil elsewhere.  

Introduction in culture :

Pinguicula leptoceras is more often found in collections of ameteurs than in carnivorous plants nurseries.

Many locations are grown by these amateurs. I really love growing the all white form (Tende) and from the type location in Grimsel. I hope one day to grow P. leptoceras without white spot also.

CULTURE AND MULTIPLICATION : 

(North hemisphere, France near Paris, in a garden  - see the map -)    

 

Life cycle : In spring, the cycle begins by the opening of the winter buds and the production of the first carnivorous leaves. The first leaves are followed by the flowers in summer. New carnivorous leaves are produced during all the season. Near autumn, or earlier, if your conditions are not optimal, the next hibernacula is revealed in the centre of the rosette. Most specimens develop a little 'scaly leaf' with only a few digestive glands, marking the end of the rosette growth. Then leaf production stops and the old leaves decay slowly. The plant (reduced now to a small hibernacula) is ready for winter and for the next cycle. 

Media: The plants grow well in a mix of 1/2 peat and 1/2 non calcareous sand mixed with vermiculite.

Pot : in small box

Cultivation : The long term cultivation of temperate Pinguicula is difficult : If the summer growing conditions are not optimal, the plants will form very weak hibernacula which easily rot. 

Optimal summer growing conditions are : good air humidity, cool temperature and UV lights.

 

Multiplication : By seeds or using the numerous gemmae produced around winter hibernacula.

 PICTURES: (click to enlarge)