Pinguicula gigantea

Pinguicula gigantea

Pinguicula gigantea is a carnivorous plant in the genus of fat herbs ( Pinguicula ) in the section Agnata. It was first described in 1996 by Hans Luhrs and has a diameter of up to 30 centimeters by far the largest species of the genus.

Description

Pinguicula gigantea is a perennial, herbaceous plant that grows in a basal rosette. The root system consists of numerous filiform adventitious roots.

The obround to reverse- egg-shaped, rounded at the blade tip to blunt leaves are semi-erect and - rare in the genus, both sides covered with glands. Towards the winter, the plant produces a winter rosette of six to nine leaves, the leaves will grow to a length between 35 and 60 mm and 24 to 38 millimeters wide.

The leaves of the summer rosette reach a length 60-145, rarely up to 165 mm and 40 to 70, rarely up to 80 mm width. On the surface, the leaves are sticky from catching secretion with which it captures small insects and, once prey is obtained, digested by enzymes.

The one to four from January to April trained flower stems are 15 to 19 inches long and have a terminal single flower. The upper sepal is three parts lobed, the lobes ovate, 3-4 mm long and as wide. The lower sepal is in two parts, the lobes are ovate to elliptic lanceolate, 2.5 and 3 millimeters long and 2 millimeters wide. The crown is pale to dark purple, the upper petal is in two parts, the lower lobed three parts.

Dissemination

The species is found exclusively in fully sunny location on steep slopes in San Bartholome Ayautla in Oaxaca, Mexico, at altitudes between 500 and 800 meters. Where it grows associated with Tillandsia streptophylla and Dragon Tree Agave ( Agave attenuata ).

Evidence

• Pinguicula gigantea on Pinguicula.org (English)