Pinguicula from Laguna de Zempoala

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TAXONOMY:

Family : Lentibulariaceae

Genus : Pinguicula

Name :  not yet published

 

Sub-classification (Casper) : link

Publication : no publication

 

DESCRIPTION :

 

- soon -

 

translation :

 

- soon -

ORIGIN AND HISTORY :

One of the plants collected and sold in the 80's by the famous Harald Weiner as seeds.

Map / LOCALISATION : 

Between two states, the state of Mexico and the state of Mexico, the national Park of Lagunas de Zempoala covers 4 700 hectares.

 

There are in fact more than 10 hollows from volcanic origin in this park. For these 10, three have water all year round : Zempoala, Tonatihua and Aguaprieta. Compila, Seca, Quila and Hueyapan have sometimes water.

 

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

 

HABITAT:         

No data, the vegetation around the lagunas is composed by pines, oaks and Abies. The plants may be found as usual on a hill side, somewhere around the laguna and in the forest. The plants should also be reached by feet or car or at least no far a road or a walking trail. Altitude given is 2900m.

The climat is wet semicold with yearly average temperatures between 5 to 12°C. There are often rains.

TEMPERATURE and PRECIPITATIONS :

Click on the graph to enlarge and see the graph of normal precipitation and normal average temperatures. Normal values are 30-year averages for the period 1961 to 1990. The weather stations are grouped by region (see map of weather stations).

Introduction in culture :

The plant was found by Harald Weiner and only few plants remain today in culture. I only know worldwide three sources : one was in UK, in Paul Temple collection's and given to me in july 2003, the other source, in Australia, in Helmut Kibelis's collection, the last one in Germany, in a shy amateur's collection. Without these three persons, the plants would have been lost in culture !

CULTURE AND MULTIPLICATION : 

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

Life cycle : The life cycle observed in culture for this Pinguicula consists of two seasons, one wet and the other dry (see link). The plant forms different leaf rosettes according to the season. During the resting months (winter) the small succulent rosette is composed of numerous smaller non-carnivorous hairy leaves. The carnivorous leaves are produced in spring and during all summer. Casper thought that the plant was homophyllous (one kind of leaves all the year), Oliver Gluch, was the first to write that Pinguicula agnata is clearly heterophyllous (different leaves in winter and summer).  

 

Media : I use a 100 % mineral media : 2 perlite, 2 vermiculite, 1 small sand (for aquarium), 1 fine white sand, 1 pouzzolane (volcanic lava), 1 aqualit (expansed ceramic for aquarium). The aqualit can be replaced by 1 of pouzzolane. Plants in this media grow slower but have a stronger root system.

 

Pot : plastic, colour terracotta, diameter 12.5cm, height 12cm.

 

Cultivation : I think that a slightly airy situation inside the greenhouse is important to avoid air stagnation. For this reason, I use a fan 24h/24h all the year round.

Watering is very important : from May to September (summer). I let the media drying slightly between two watering. I use rain water poured on the top of the pot taking care not to wet the rosette.  From October to April, It is important to let the media drying completely (no watering) but with an atmospheric humidity of about 80%.

The mentioned months are indicative and can change according to your own growing conditions. In fact, when this Pinguicula begins to produce its non-carnivorous leaves, you have to stop watering and let the pot drying out completely. Inversely, when the plant begins to produce in early spring its carnivorous leaves, you have to progressively start watering again the pot.

Temperatures : during growth period, day temperatures are about 25°C but can reach 35°C when the sun is shining on the greenhouse in spite of the use of shading covers. Night temperatures are around 20°C. During resting period : day/night over freezing point. Lower temperature observed : - 4°C. I use an electronic petroleum heater to provide heat.

Flowering period : not yet observed

 

Multiplication : The plants can be propagated easily using non-carnivorous leaves separated from the rosette at the end of winter. You only have to carefully tear out the totality of the leaf particularly with it's white base as the new plantlets will sprout from this area. Don't try with the summer leaves, it is harder.

PICTURES: (click to enlarge)

* : I am waiting for the agreement of http://www.reforma.com for using their pictures in this website and hope to have a positive answer soon.