Pinguicula vulgaris f. bicolor

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TAXONOMY:

Family : Lentibulariaceae

Genus : Pinguicula

Name : Pinguicula vulgaris f. bicolor

Sub-classification (Casper) : link

Publication : by Nordst. ex Fries, in Herb.Norm.16: Nr.22 (1864)

DESCRIPTION :  

 

(See description of Pinguicula vulgaris)

 

Corolla bicolorata lobi corollae labii inferi albidi albidi, tubus corollae caeruleus, calcar caeruleum vel albidum.

 

Chromosomata 2n=64

 

Translation :

 

- soon - 

ORIGIN AND HISTORY :

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 wrote : "in different regions of Europe, P. vulgaris occasionally appears with totally white corolla lobes while the rest of the flower is violet. 

Sometimes P. vulgaris f. bicolor specimens are found amongst the normally colored Pinguicula vulgaris, in other regions there are sites with exclusively 'normal' and exclusively two-colored specimens. As far as I know, the f. bicolor was not recorded in North America."

 

There is a discussion for the status of P. bohemica as a true different species as the plant looks similar with P. vulgaris f. bicolor. Jurg Steiger wrote in this same article that he grow both and cannot identify any pertinent difference between P. bohemica and P. vulgaris f. bicolor. P.bohemica was published to be tetraploid (2n=32) but considering the difficulty of chromosome counting in Pinguicula the technical quality of this count is not convincing.

Localisation / Map: 

This forma can be found for exemple in the Jura mountains in France and Switzerland. 

 

I have visited plants from the following sites :

- Lake of Joux, Switzerland

- Mouthe, Doubs, France

 

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

HABITAT: 

According to Jurg Steiger, this forma can grow in almost every biotop and in all sorts of soil mineral provided that moisture is sufficient and that the habitat is not too shady. All the above site mentioned I visited had P. vulgaris f. bicolor with normal P. vulgaris growing in sphagnum wet bogs (don't forget your boots !).  

Introduction in culture :

This forma is still very rare among Pinguicula growers as temperate Pinguicula growers are not numerous worldwide.

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: The plants grow in a mix of 1/2 peat and 1/2 non calcareous sand.

Pot : In small box, with direct sun for 5 hours per 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.

 

Multiplication : By seeds or using the gemmae produced in great number around winter hibernacula.

 PICTURES: (click to enlarge)

The habitat of Pinguicula vulgaris and Pinguicula vulgaris f. bicolor near Lake of Joux, Switzerland.   Photo : JEFF http://fern72.free.fr/	The habitat of Pinguicula vulgaris and Pinguicula vulgaris f. bicolor near Lake of Joux, Switzerland.   Photo : Eric Partrat - August 1997 -
The habitat of Pinguicula vulgaris and Pinguicula vulgaris f. bicolor near Lake of Joux, Switzerland.   Photo : JEFF http://fern72.free.fr/	Cluster of Pinguicula vulgaris f. bicolor in culture in my garden. If you can grow Pinguicula vulgaris then you can grow Pinguicula vulgaris f. bicolor.   Photo : Eric Partrat - June 2001 -
The flower of Pinguicula vulgaris f. bicolor Photo : Eric Partrat - June 2001 -	The flower of Pinguicula vulgaris. Photo : Eric Partrat - June 2001 -