Flowers that keep their secrets well hidden

The genus Pinguicula comprises around 80 species. Many are quite difficult to grow, but certain species and hybrids of Mexican origin acclimatise easily and are very rewarding to cultivate… as they flower several times a year, including in autumn and winter, whilst they are dormant in the form of a succulent rosette devoid of sticky hairs. As the flowering period is quite long, you can take the time to observe them closely…

For apart from their sticky leaves, it is the flowers that make these unusual carnivorous plants so appealing. The flower of Pinguicula ‘Tina’ (pictured above) is one of the largest (between 2 and 3 cm in diameter). Its soft mauve colour, dotted with purple veins, hides a little surprise: glandular hairs at the base of the lobes formed by the three lower petals! In Pinguicula moranensis (pictured), there are even more of them.

One can therefore imagine that even the smallest dipterans might be caught there, whilst the rosette itself no longer develops any carnivorous leaves. Clever!