Pinguicula primuliflora C.E. Wood & R.K. Godfrey

Southern Butterwort; Clearwater Butterwort

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Southern Butterwort is a native herbaceous perennial in the Bladderwort family (Lentibulariaceae). It is found in the southern third of the state. It grows in very wet and sunny locations such as seeps, spring runs, and bogs. It is a perennial with a poorly developed fibrous root system. Leaves form a basal rosette. The leaves are sessile, ovate to elliptic in outline, glandular, with entire margins. The leaves are a yellowish-green color and the leaf apex is rounded. The margins of the leaves are often revolute (rolled up). Flowers are solitary on a leafless stalk (scape). The corolla has an expanded portion with 5 notched lobes. The corolla lobes vary in color from white to blue or pink and the throat is white. There is a mass of yellow club-shaped hairs in the throat. The tube of the corolla is short and ends with a downward pointing spur. The tube and spur are yellow with reddish lines. The fruit is a capsule with many small brown seed. Like all members of the Lentibulariaceae, Southern Butterwort is carnivorous. The leaves are covered with tiny glands which secrete a sticky fluid, giving the leaves a shiny appearance. Pinguia is Latin for “fat” and refers to the shiny appearance of the leaves. When an insect encounters the leaf it becomes trapped in this sticky fluid. As it struggles it comes into contact with more of the glands and eventually sufficates as it is covered with the fluid. The plant then secretes digestive enzymes that dissolve the soft parts of the prey. The Butterwort then absorbs the nutrients, especially nitrogen which in lacking in the acidic sandy soil where this plant grows. Southern Butterwort is one of the first Butterworts to flower, often as early as February. Flower color varies from white, pale blue, lavender, or pale pink. The species name refers to the flowers which resemble those of Primrose (Primula). Southern Butterwort is easier to grow than many of the other Butterworts, but plants should not be collected from the wild. Many ca

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Native OBL (NWPL)

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