The New England Carnivorous Plant Society www.NECPS.org

The Butterworts

Pinguicula sp.

Although their accepted common name is Butterworts, Pinguicula are more often referred to simply as “pings” by those who grow them. In Latin, Pinguicula translates as “little greasy one”. Butterworts are typically small carnivorous plants, and most grow with their leaves pressed against the ground. Many pings produce flowers that rival orchids or African violets in color and beauty.

How They Trap Food: As their Latin name suggests, Butterworts are greasy to the touch. This is due to the thousands of minute glandular hairs that cover the surface of each leaf. The

glands each produce a drop of sticky dew. When an insect lands on a leaf, it becomes mired in the amazingly sticky dew. The plant then releases a copious amount of digestive liquid, which wets the insect prey down. Then digestion takes place, as the soft parts of the insect are dissolved, and the ping reabsorbs the resulting solution, which often slobbers down the leaf. Pings are also capable of movement, the leaf margins of many species curl inwards to pool the digestive liquid.

Typical Prey: Pings capture multitudes of tiny insects such as gnats, fruit flies and springtails. Some plants are capable of capturing insects as large as crane flies or dragonflies.

Where they Live: Pinguicula are found throughout the Northern Hemisphere and also in South America. Many are found in Siberia, North America and Europe. The greatest concentration of species is found in Central America and Mexico.

Basic Care: How you care for your ping depends primarily on whether your plant is from a temperate or tropical environment (although there are many variations even within this classification). Many species can be grown in plastic or glazed ceramic pots in soil consisting of equal parts coarse sand and peat moss, and watered using the “tray method”. Most temperate species can be grown outdoors in the summer; tropical species can be grown in well-lit terrariums. Temperate species require a chilly winter dormancy period, during which time they hibernate as dormant buds. Some Mexican species develop succulent leaves in the winter, and require drier condtions.

References: D’Amato, Peter. 1998. The Savage Garden. Berkeley, California.: Ten Speed Press.