Pinguicula crassifolia

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TAXONOMY:

Family : Lentibulariaceae

Genus : Pinguicula

Name :  Pinguicula acuminata 

 

Sub-classification (Casper) : link

 

Publication : Acta Botanica Mexicana (1988), 3 : 21 - 28

By Sergio Zamudio,

"Dos nuevas especies de Pinguicula (Lentibulariaceae) del centro y norte de Mexico".

DESCRIPTION : (by Sergio Zamudio)

Herba perennis. Folia dimorpha, in duabus seriebus disposita; folia « aestivalia » 5 – 7, petiolata, laminae ellipticae usque ad oblongae, apice rotundatae, basi cuneatae usque ad rotundatae, margine leviter involutae, 37 – 111 mm longae, (16) 20 – 60 mm latae, petiole villosi, vix ciliate; folia “hiemalia” 20 – 60, crassa, dolabrioformia, elliptica usque ad anguste obtrullata, apice acuta, margine integra, apicem versus ciliate, 3 – 11 mm longa, 1.5 – 6 mm lata. Pedicelli 1 – 4, erecti, glanduloso-hirsuti, 47 – 85 mm longi. Flores 23 -50 mm longi (calcare incluso); calyx bilabiatus, villosus, labium superum 1/2 - 7/8 longitudinis trilobum, lobis triangularibus usque ad triangulari-lanceolatis, (1.5) 2 – 3.5 mm longis, 1 – 2 (3) mm latis, labium inferum usque ad basim fere bipartitum, lobis lanceolatis vel oblongis, 2 – 3 (4) mm longis, 1 – 2 mm latis; corolla bilabiata, rubro-purpurea, labium superum bilobatum, lobis obovato-cuneatis, apice truncatis vel rotundatis, (5) 7 – 12 mm longis, 4 – 11 mm latis, labium inferum trilobatum, lobis obovato-cuneatis, apice truncates vel rotundatis, 6 – 15 mm longis, (4) 5 -12.5 mm latis, lobus medius lateralibus paulo major, tubus infundibuliformis, leviter ventricosus, 8 - 15 mm longus, 3 – 6 (10) mm latus, intus ventraliter dense pubescens, pilis multicellularibus dimorphis, in tubi parte supera piliscylindricis, longis, tenuibus, aliquis apice biseriatis, in parte media et infera pilis brevibus, crassis, aliquis apice biseriatis vel multiseriatis, palatum nullum, calcar cylindricum-subulatum, 8 – 25 mm longum, 1 – 2 mm latum; stamina 2 – 2.7 mm longa. Capsula subglobosa vel late ovoida, 3 - 4 mm diametro. Semina fusiformia, +/- 1 mm longa, +/- 0.2 mm lata, superficie reticulate, cellulis polygonalibus.

ORIGIN AND HISTORY :

In the past, this species was mistaken with Pinguicula macrophylla HBK.

Map / LOCALISATION : 

 

The type comes from Hidalgo, municipality of El Chico, Las Ventanas, at an altitude of 3000m. There are numerous locations mentioned in the publication : Cerro de las Ventanas, in the national park of El Chico, in Mineral del Chico... all at altitudes between 2850 m to 3000m.   

 

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

 

 

El Chico National Park is located on the eastern side of the Sierra of Pachuca mountains and ranges in altitude from 2,320 meters to a height of 3,090 meters above sea level. In 1898 it became the first national park decreed a natural reserve. The park covers an area of 2,739 hectares and is popular with hikers, mountain bikers and rock-climbers who come to scale its rocky peaks, including "La Ventana", the highest point in the park, just outside of Mineral del Chico.

HABITAT:         

According to the publication, the plants can be found on mosses on wet rocks under Abies religiosa and Juniper monticola or Oaks, in area wet and shady, in slits of rocks with rich organic soil. 

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 :

No data. I bought my plant in A. Wistuba's carnivorous plants nursery.

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 non-carnivorous hairy leaves. The carnivorous leaves are produced in spring and during all summer. The life cycle of the plant is probably similar in it's native habitat.

 

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 sligthly 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 all the leaf particularly with the white base. The new plantlets will sprout from this area. Don't try with the summer leaves, it is harder.

PICTURES: (click to enlarge)

Winter rosette of Pinguicula crassifolia in culture with old summer leaves.    Photo: Eric Partrat - November 2001 -	Pinguicula crassifolia in habitat in Cerro de Las Ventanas.   Photo : A. Gentry © Missouri Botanical Garden Missouri Botanical Garden
Winter rosette of Pinguicula crassifolia  with  summer leaves, in culture.    Photo: Eric Partrat - November 2002 -	Pinguicula crassifolia flowering in culture from winter rosette.   Photo : Jan Flisek www.Bestcarnivorousplants.com
Pinguicula crassifolia flowering in culture. Note the size of the flower and the size of the winter rosette.   Photo : Jan Flisek www.Bestcarnivorousplants.com	Pinguicula crassifolia flowering in culture.   Photo : Jan Flisek www.Bestcarnivorousplants.com
Pinguicula crassifolia flowering in culture. Note the hairy calyx.   Photo : Jan Flisek www.Bestcarnivorousplants.com	Pinguicula crassifolia flowering in culture. The scape, the calyx and the lobes are hairy.   Photo : Jan Flisek www.Bestcarnivorousplants.com
Landscape in El Chico National Park     Photo : Dr. Manuel Aguilar This image in its original context, on the page : http://instructional1.calstatela.edu/bevans/Art454L-27-ElChicoSierraAlta.1/	Landscape in El Chico National Park     Photo : Dr. Manuel Aguilar This image in its original context, on the page : http://instructional1.calstatela.edu/bevans/Art454L-27-ElChicoSierraAlta.1/
Sierra Alta, landscape in El Chico National Park   Photo : Dr. Manuel Aguilar This image in its original context, on the page : http://instructional1.calstatela.edu/bevans/Art454L-27-ElChicoSierraAlta.1/	Landscape in El Chico National Park   This image in its original context, on the page : http://www.hidalgo.gob.mx/municipios/municipio.asp?municipioID=39#
Juniperus sp.  This image in its original context, on the page : TRAVEL.ASP	Juniperus sp.    This image in its original context, on the page : LostMine.html
Pines forest in Mexican Sierra	Mixed forest of Pines and Oaks.
Musgos (mosses) This image in its original context, on the page : briofita.htm	Musgos (mosses) This image in its original context, on the page :  briofita.htm
Pinguicula crassifolia in wild in El Chico National Park.
Ruben Resendiz and Fernando Rivadavia having a rest before reaching the Pinguicula crassifolia location behind.   Photo : Ed. Read	Three amateurs (Fernando Rivadavia (left), Ed. Read  (Top) and Ruben (Right)) just at the bottom of the location of Pinguicula crassifolia. Follow the direction Ed. is showing.   Photo : Marlene
Pinguicula crassifolia is growing on mosses directly on the rock.    Photo : Ed. Read	A wall full of Pinguicula crassifolia.   Photo : Ed. Read
Fernando Rivadavia contemplating the wall full of Pinguicula crassifolia.   Photo : Ed. Read	Winter rosette of Pinguicula crassifolia  with  late summer leaves, in wild.  Photo : Ed. Read
	More pictures and informations here with the article of Marlene and Ruben : article
The habitat of Pinguicula crassifolia revisited in 2009 by Radek Kastner.
The habitat of Pinguicula crassifolia from El Chico National Park, Hidalgo state, 2957 m. n. m. Habitat : steep rock walls among mostly coniferous forest (with many shrubs and herbs and grasses) with moss.   Photo : Radek KASTNER July-August 2009	Pinguicula crassifolia in habitat.   Photo : Radek KASTNER July-August 2009
P. crassifolia in different evolution stage, the biggest plants about +/- 8 cm in diameter.   Photo : Radek KASTNER July-August 2009	P. crassifolia in different evolution stage, the biggest plants about +/ -8 cm in diameter.   Photo : Radek KASTNER July-August 2009
P. crassifolia in different evolution stage, the biggest plants about +/- 8 cm in diameter.   Photo : Radek KASTNER July-August 2009	P. crassifolia in different evolution stage, the biggest plants about +/- 8 cm in diameter.   Photo : Radek KASTNER July-August 2009