No images found for this plant ID: 34414.
Ensure images are uploaded to the Media Library and tagged with "34414" in the "plant_image_tag" taxonomy.
California butterwort
Scientific Name: Pinguicula macroceras var. microceras
Family: Lentibulariaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Pinguicula macroceras: The California Butterwort
Pinguicula macroceras, commonly known as the California Butterwort or Horned Butterwort, is a fascinating carnivorous plant native to North America.
Considerations for Pets
- The plant has sticky leaves designed to trap insects.
Considerations for Children
- The plant has sticky leaves designed to trap insects.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Pinguicula macroceras Link
- Common Names: California Butterwort, Horned Butterwort
- Family: Lentibulariaceae (mentioned in relation to Pinguicula ionantha, Godfrey's Butterwort)
- Synonyms:
- Pinguicula vulgaris var. macroceras (Link) Herder
- Pinguicula vulgaris subsp. macroceras (Link) Calder & Roy L. Taylor
- Subspecies: Pinguicula macroceras ssp. macroceras, Pinguicula macroceras ssp. nortensis
Distribution and Habitat
- Native to the North American Pacific region.
- Found in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska.
- Specifically mentioned locations include:
- Del Norte County, California
- Six Rivers National Forest, California
- Smith River region, northwest California
- Olympic National Park, Washington
- Cascade Mountains of California, Oregon, and Washington
- Typically grows on moist rocks and in alpine grasslands.
Morphology and Growth Habits
- It is a perennial herb, specifically a forb (a non-woody plant that is not a grass).
- Identifiable by violet-like flowers that emerge on stalks from a rosette of leaves.
- The leaves are covered in a sticky substance used to trap insects.
Ecological Role
- It is a carnivorous plant, digesting insects that get stuck to its leaves.
Quirky Facts
- The name "butterwort" comes from the slippery feel of the leaves.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- Carnivorous plant that traps insects on its sticky leaves.
Further Information
- Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS): Provides taxonomic status and related information (TSN 34438).
- California Native Plant Society: Classifies Pinguicula macroceras.
- Discover Life: Offers information on the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Pinguicula macroceras.