Pinguicula potosiensis

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TAXONOMY:

Family : Lentibulariaceae

Genus : Pinguicula

Name : Pinguicula potosiensis

Sub-classification (Casper) : link

Publication : Dr Franz Speta and Franz Fuchs in :

Phyton (Austria), Vol. 29, Fasc. 1, pages 93 -103, 1989. 

"Drei neue Pinguicula-arten der sektion Orcheosanthus DC. aus Mexico"

DESCRIPTION : (by Dr Franz Speta and Franz Fuchs)

Plantae perennes. Rhizoma simplex brevis radicibus adventitiis numerosis filiformibus. Folia rosulae compactae hiemalis 30 - 40 obovata, 2 cm longa, 6 - 9 mm lata; dense glanduloso-pilosa. Folia rosulae laxae aestivalis 15 - 20; late spathulata, brevipetiolata, 8.5 cm longa, usque ad 4 cm lata, apice margo convoluta. Hibernacula nulla. Florescentia II - XII.  Pedicelli 4 - 5, teretes, erecti, 26 cm longi, glanduloso-pilosi. Calyx dense glanduloso-pilosus, sepala 4.5 mm longa, 2.2 mm lata, inferiora 1.5 mm concrescentia. Corolla bilabiata, intus subviolacea. Labium superius et labium inferius angulum 120° formans. Lobi 14 mm longi, 8 - 10 mm lati, cuneati, lobus medius usque ad 13 mm latus. Pili fauce simplices. Calcar ca. 3 cm longum, paucicurvatum, pilosum. Ovarium globosum, dense glandulosopilosum, stigma carnea ciliata incumbente. Ovula numerosa. Filamenta alba, thecae et pollen palide brunescentes.    

 

translation :

 - Soon - 

ORIGIN AND HISTORY :

No data. 

Localisation / Map: 

From Mexico, state of San Luis Potosi, at 48 km East of the town of San Luis Potosi, in the direction of Rio Verde.

P. potosiensis site is located near Aguacatal in San Luis Potosí, at an altitude of 2117 m above sea level....(Personal comm. from Radek KASTNER, December 2009)

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

HABITAT:  

No data according to the authors of the publication but the location have been visited since the publication. P. potosiensis grow in deciduous forest, almost in shade areas, on small rock outcrops in the forest (in moss or in soil with organic parts). See below and in the following postcard : Postcard N°3

 

TEMPERATURE and PRECIPITATIONS : 

Click on the graph to enlarge and see graph of normal precipitation and normal average temperatures. The 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. 

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 leaves. The carnivorous leaves are produced in spring and during all summer. The flowering occurs from summer rosette. The life cycle of the plant is probably similar in it's native habitat but I have no data.

 

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 20cm, height 12cm for forming a colony.

 

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 may 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 : 

Multiplication : I have never succeeded in pollinating the flowers of this Pinguicula (needs two different clones ?) . So I don't know the seeds. 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 including the white base as the plantlets will sprout from this area.

PICTURES: (click to enlarge)

Pinguicula potosiensis in habitat in Mexico (by Radek Kastner):
Road close to the habitat of Pinguicula potosiensis.   Photo : Radek Kastner July-August 2009	The habitat of Pinguicula potosiensis : a deciduous forest.   Photo : Radek Kastner July-August 2009
Pinguicula potosiensis can be found on small rock outcrops in the forest (in moss or in soil with organic parts).   Photo : Radek Kastner July-August 2009	Large Pinguicula potosiensis plants with green to purple leaves. Plants are growing in almost shade.   Photo : Radek Kastner July-August 2009
Pinguicula potosiensis growing on mosses.   Photo : Radek Kastner July-August 2009	Pinguicula potosiensis growing on organic soil.   Photo : Radek Kastner July-August 2009
Pinguicula potosiensis exhibiting a showy complete palette of leaves colours : from bright green to really purple leaves with intermediates plantes  with also red veination.   Photo : Radek Kastner July-August 2009	Large green Pinguicula potosiensis : plants were usually about ten and more centimeters in diameter but many plants were larger : about 15 or more - distance between my thumb and tip of index finger is 15 cm....   Photo : Radek Kastner July-August 2009
You can find more pictures in habitat of this species in the following postcard : Postcard N°3 and many more species in the articles area.
Pinguicula potosiensis in culture :
Summer rosette of Pinguicula potosiensis in culture, green and red form. The two forms are growing closely from each other and receive the same amount of sun.   Photo : Eric Partrat - October 2002 -	Close-up of the summer rosette of Pinguicula potosiensis from Nature et Paysage   Photo : Stephane Joly -  -
Close-up of the flower of Pinguicula potosiensis   Photo : Eric Partrat - June 2001 -	Close-up of the nice colored summer rosette of Pinguicula potosiensis from Bestcarnivorousplants.com   Photo : Eric Partrat - October 2002 -
First summer leaves in the centre of the winter rosette of Pinguicula potosiensis.   Photo : Stephane Joly - 2003 -	Pinguicula potosiensis.    Photo : Vic Brown