Pinguicula pumila Michaux. Common name: Small Butterwort. Phenology: (Oct-) Feb-May. Habitat: Wet pine savannas and wet pine flatwoods. Distribution: Se. NC (Carteret and Pender counties) south to s. FL, west to se. TX; Bahamas.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Taxonomy Comments: A presumed form from s. FL with clear yellow corollas was named P. pumila var. buswellii (see synonymy); it needs additional evaluation.
Synonymy ⓘ: = Bah, Fl6, GW2, K4, RAB, S, Tx, WH3, Schnell (2002b); > Pinguicula pumila Walter var. buswellii Moldenke. Basionym: Pinguicula pumila Michx. 1803
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL
- Great Plains: OBL
Heliophily ⓘ: 8
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Scapose, carnivorous plant of pine savannas and wet pine flatwoods.
Stems: Stem a single, hairy flowering scape arising from the basal rosette of leaves.
Leaves: Leaves basal, in a rosette about 1 1/2 in. wide, oval with curled up margins, smaller than leaves of other Pinguicula species, somewhat fleshy, yellowish-green and oily feeling.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers held singly at tip of scape, often angled with opening upward; whitish to pale violet; less than 1/2 in. wide; bilaterally symmetric and tubular, with 5 spreading, notched corolla lobes, a hairy lump on inside bottom of the throat, and a backward-pointing spur.
Fruits:
Comments: Insects are trapped on the upper surface of leaves, which secrete a musty-smelling mucilage and digestive fluids.
Height: 6-8 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Scapose, carnivorous plant of pine savannas and wet pine flatwoods.
stems: Stem a single, hairy flowering scape arising from the basal rosette of leaves.
leaves: Leaves basal, in a rosette about 1 1/2 in. wide, oval with curled up margins, smaller than leaves of other Pinguicula species, somewhat fleshy, yellowish-green and oily feeling.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers held singly at tip of scape, often angled with opening upward; whitish to pale violet; less than 1/2 in. wide; bilaterally symmetric and tubular, with 5 spreading, notched corolla lobes, a hairy lump on inside bottom of the throat, and a backward-pointing spur.
fruits:
comments: Insects are trapped on the upper surface of leaves, which secrete a musty-smelling mucilage and digestive fluids.
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range:
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