Pinguicula corsica

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TAXONOMY:

Family : Lentibulariaceae

Genus : Pinguicula

Name : Pinguicula corsica

Sub-classification (Casper) : link

Publication : Bern. et Gren. ex Gre. et Godr. 

Flore France 2 (1850) 443

DESCRIPTION :  (In Casper)

Perennis. Rhizoma simplex breve radicibus numerosis filiformibus. Folia 5 - 9 (Vel plures) radicalia rosulata integerrima ovata vel obovato-ovalia rotundata subpetiolata (basin versus valde angustata) margine vix involuta superne glandulis sessilibus stipitatisque dense vestita lamina (20) 25 - 35 (40) mm longa 9 -16 mm lata. Hibernacula. Pedicelli erecti crassiusculi glandulis stipitatis modice dense, apicem versus dense obsiti (21) 40 - 90 (150) mm alti uniflori. Flores mediocres vel sat magni (10) 16 -25 (31) mm longi (calcari incluso). Calyx bilabiatus extus glandulis stipitatis disperse obsitus; labium superum +/- profunde trilobum lobis oblongo-lanceolatis angustissimis basin versus paulisper angustatis apice obtusis; labium inferum ad dimidium longitudinis bilobum lobis obtusis non divergentibus. Corolla bilabiata pallide caerulescens vel pallide rosea raro violacea vel albescens; labium superum bilobum lobis obovatis subrotundatis; labium inferum trilobum lobis obovatis obtusis quidquam inter se tegentibus. Tubus infundibuliformis labium suerum subaequans violaceo-striatus intus pilosus pilis longis cylindricis saepe parumcapitatis. Calcar cylindrico-subulatum acutum vel obtusum rectum (3) 4 - 6 (9) mm longum tertiam partem tubi limbique corollae vix superans. Stamina +/- 2mm longa; pollen (5) -6 (7) colporatum. Ovarium subglobosum glandulis stipitatis disperse obsitum. Stigma bilabiatum labio infero flabelliformi fimbriato inferne piloso superne papilloso. Capsula subglobosa +/- 3 mm diam. calycem vix superans. Semina ignota.

 

Chromosomata 2n=16

 

Translation :

 

- soon - 

ORIGIN AND HISTORY :

Pinguicula corsica is a species endemic to Corsica island and it has never been found elsewhere. 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, explain this fact : "Six millions years ago the Mediterranean Sea was more or less dry, i.e. the Corsica island was not disconnected from the continent by the Atlantic waters entering from the Strait of Gibraltar. It is likely that one or more Pinguicula predecessors existed in the mountainous areas of southern Europe. When the Mediterranean Sea disconnected the islands of Corsica and Sardinia, it also isolated the Corsican Pinguiculas. Corsica remain more or less untouched by several ice ages, the insular climate was probably relatively predictable and there was no necessity for this species to adapt to fundamentally changing conditions and to conquer new territories. Thus there was no reason for it to increase the chromosome number (more on this theory). With 2n = 16, P. corsica is considered to be one of the old species within the subgenus Pinguicula".

Localisation / Map: 

Corsica has been referred to as the "Isle of Beauty" and the "Scented Isle" as the air is heavy with the fragrance of the maquis and the magnificent forests of pine, oak, beech and chestnut which exist on the lower mountain slopes.

The sheer diversity of the landscape and the awesomely rugged terrain of pink granite mountains soaring to alt. 2743 m / 9000 ft, cut by deep gorges and cascading rivers, make this an exceptionally rewarding area in which to trek.

The Grand Randonnee 20 footpath  (GR20) follows the watershed of the mountains, spanning the island from north west to south east. A challenging long distance walk, alternatively called the Corsican Haute Route, it passes some of the highest peaks on the island including Mte. Cinto (alt. 2710 m / 8890 ft) Mte. Rotondo (alt. 2621 m / 8600 ft) Mte.d'Oro (alt. 2389 m / 7837 ft) and Mte.Renoso (alt. 235l m / 7716 ft). 

 

 

 

 

(Click on this map for enlargement 

and localisation of the above depicted habitats)

 

 

 

 

 

HABITAT:  

Pinguicula corsica grows in subalpine and alpine damp meadows (pozzines) and around little springs and lakes, near and above the timberline, sometimes descending into cool ravines, usually from 1000 - 2400 m. The highest sites are covering by snow during 4 - 7 months . The substrate of all sites is granite, but in cultivation P. corsica also grows on calcareous substrate. This allows the conclusion that it does not grow on silicate ground due to a preference based on a selection process but just due to the fact that no other substrate is available there. 

Introduction in culture :

My plant f. pallidula comes from J.J. LABAT collection (manager of the famous French Nursery "Nature et Paysage"). The other ones from J. Steiger and from L. Wix (UK).

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. 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: I use the following media with very good results (see picture below : 2/3 sphagnum peat, 1/3 non calcareous sand.

Pot : In big box, with direct sun most of the day.

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.

But I think this is the easiest temperate Pinguicula for beginners. 

 

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

 PICTURES: (click to enlarge)

Pinguicula corsica in culture :

The cascade of "the wedding veil" - La cascade du voile de la Mariée - (alt. m /  ft)

The cascade of "the wedding veil" is located not far from the village of Bocognano. This cascade is one of the prettiest in Corsica. The name comes from the beautiful evaporation of the water from it source that in summer represents something like a wedding veil. It is a pleasant halt on the road to the cascade of "Englishmen". 

The cascade of " the wedding veil" with Stephane climbing to see Pinguicula corsica Photo : Stéphane Joly	Pinguicula corsica flowering in wild Photo : Filippo Tassara
Photo : Stéphane Joly	Photo : Stéphane Joly
Photo : Stéphane Joly	Photo : Stéphane Joly
Photo : Stéphane Joly	Photo : Stéphane Joly

The cascade of the englishmen - La cascade des anglais (alt. 1470m / 4851 ft)

In the heart of the forest of Vizzavona, a series of small cascades falling from a height of about 70 meters. Located near road RN 193, it was formerly called "cascatelle Italiani"

Inula viscosa Photo : Stéphane Joly

Lost Pass - Col Perdu - (alt. 2.183 m / 7160 ft) :

This is the entrance for a place with a wonderful landscape called "Cirque de la Solitude"

Pass of Vergio - Col de Vergio - (alt. 1477 m / 4845 ft) 

This is one of the highest pass in Corsica, from Porto on the west coast towards Corte in the centre of the island. 

The cascade of Radule - La cascade de Radule - (alt. 1400 m / 4620 ft) :

The cascade of Radule is located in the center of the Vergio massif, this cascade is the largest of the area. It falls on more than 15 meters

Monte Cinto - (alt. 2.706 m /  8875 ft) 

This is the island's highest mountain (2706m)