Savage Garden: Primrose Butterwort

Butterworts are carnivorous plants of the genus Pinguicula which has about 80 known species world wide. These carnivorous plants are most like flypaper, witch the whole surface of their leaves and even their flower stalks being coated in a greasy and sticky glue that traps small insects and even grains of pollen.

Currently, we are displaying a Butterwort species native to the southeast United States, Primrose Butterwort (Pinguicula primuliflora). This species has almost no root structure, just a a few fine hairs to hold the plant in place and collect water.

A glance at the the leaves of this plant shows a thick gooey substance that glistens in the light.

A closer look reveals that the broad leaves of the Butterwort are covered in tiny stalks that each produce a sugary glue. Insects are attracted to the sugars in the secretions and become quickly trapped by the sticky substance.

After trapping an insect, the stalks produce more glue and digestive juices to better secure their prey, as well as break down and digest the nutrients. Each section of Butterwort leaf only works once for feeding, and after the digestive juices are used up, that portion of the leaf cannot produce more enzymes. Butterworts produce new leaves to consume more prey.

What's in a Name?

The Genus name Pinguicula derives from the Latin word pinguis (meaning "fat" or "grease") likely referring to the greasy or buttery appearance of the leaves. The Latin suffix "ula" means "little one".

The specific epithet, primuliflora means "having flowers like a primrose". 

The species was first collected and identified by French botanist André Michaux (Michx.).