Pinguicula mesophytica

Pinguicula mesophytica

TAXONOMY:

Family : Lentibulariaceae

Genus : Pinguicula

Name : Pinguicula mesophytica

Sub-classification (Casper) : link

Publication : Acta Botanica Mexicana (1997), 40 : 65 - 69

By Sergio Zamudio,

"Una especie nueva de Pinguicula (Lentibulariaceae) de centroamerica".

DESCRIPTION : (by Sergio Zamudio)

Herba perennis, epiphytica vel epipetrica. Folia radicalia rosulata, in duabus seriebus deposita; folia "hiemalia" 14 - 16, spathulata, modice dense vestita, 5 - 9 15) mm longa, 2 - 3 (4.5) mm lata; folia "aestivalia" 4 -8 (12), petiolata, laminae obovatae, oblongaeusque ad suborbiculatae, basi vix truncatae, margine leviter involutae, superne glandulis sessilibus et glandulis stipitatis dense vestitae, 12 - 27 mm longae, 10 - 25 mm latae; petioli villosi ciliati, 6 - 8 mm longi. Hibernacula ignota. Pedunculi 1 - 4 (8) erecti, teretes, glandulosi, basi glabrescentes, 40 - 80 (100) mm alti, uniflori. Flores 25 - 40 mm longi (calcare incluso). Calyx bilabiatus, extus glandulis stipitatis modice dense obsitus; labium superum profunde tripartitum, lobis oblongis, labium inferum usque ad 2/3 longitudinis bilobum, lobis oblongo-lanceolatis. Corolla profunde bilabita, rubro-purpurea, labium superum bilobatum, lobis suborbiculatis vel oblatis, rotundatis, 4 - 8 mm latis. Tubus brevissimus infundibuliformis, 3 - 4 mm longus, sine palato, intus pilosus, pilis cylindrico-subulatis. Calcar subulatum, acuminatum, recurvatum, 14 - 20 mm longum, tubum limbumque corollae subduplo superans. Stamina 2 mm longa. Ovarium subglobosum, glandulis stipitatis disperse obsitum. Capsula ovalis, 3 - 4 mm longa, 2.5 - 3 mm lata, parum glandulis stipitatis obsita. Semina innumerabilia, fusiformia, +/- 1 mm longa, +/- 0.25 mm lata, reticulata.

translation :

- Soon -

ORIGIN AND HISTORY :

This species was mistaken in the past for Pinguicula moranensis HBK until Dr Sergio Zamudio, the well known Mexican botanist, studied it and gave a true species rank for this wonderful species. These plants are different in the Size of the flower and the forms of the tube and the corolla lobes. These plants are generally epifites, smaller and delicate that those of Pinguicula moranensis and inhabits in wet area within the mesophyllous mountain forest. A mesophyllous mountain forest is caracterized by humid areas with several strata and abundant climbers and epiphytes.

Localisation / Map:

The type specimen comes from El Salvador, Department of Santa Ana, Montecristo. Other localisation are mentioned in the publication :

In El Salvador :

- Department of Santa Ana, Cerro Miramundo, above Hacienda Los Planos, Northeast of Metapan;

- Rocas Doradas, Montecristo;

- National Park of Montecristo, Municipality of Metapapan, in the Miramundito.

In Guatemala :

- Department of Chiquimula, middle slopes of Montana Norte to El Jutal,

- On cerro Brujo, Southeast of Concepcion de las minas.

In Honduras :

- Department of Intibuca, near the cascade of Yamaranguila

- Department of Ocotepeque, road of Belén Gualcho, 15 km NE of the village.

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

HABITAT:

According to the publication and the photos I saw in Oliver Komar's homepage (http://www.nhm.ku.edu/komar/), The plants can be found in mesophyllous mountains forests, with Hedyosmum, Liquidambar, Persea and Pinus. The plants grow as epiphytic on mosses on tree trunks exposed to wind, or as rupicole near the wet areas of cascades. The plants grow at altitudes between 1300 to 2400m.

Introduction in culture :

Not yet. I only get seeds on December 2002 from an anonymous donator, with the only mention : "from culture, not wild collected". The seeds are labelled "Verapaz, Guatemala". No more information. If the donator could contact me, this will be very useful.

CULTURE AND MULTIPLICATION :

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

- Details informations when the seeds will germinate (we hope so) -

PICTURES: (click to enlarge)