Pinguicula moranensis

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Pinguicula moranensis
In habitat in Oaxaca
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lentibulariaceae
Genus: Pinguicula
Species:
P. moranensis
Binomial name
Pinguicula moranensis
Varieties

P. moranensis var. moranensis
P. moranensis var. neovolcanica

Synonyms

According to Zamudio (2001) unless otherwise noted.[1]
P. moranensis var. moranensis:

P. moranensis var. neovolcanica:

Pinguicula moranensis

mucilaginous (sticky) glands that attract, trap, and digest arthropod prey. Nutrients derived from the prey are used to supplement the nutrient-poor substrate
that the plant grows in. In the winter the plant forms a non-carnivorous rosette of small, fleshy leaves that conserves energy while food and moisture supplies are low. Single pink, purple, or violet flowers appear twice a year on upright stalks up to 25 centimeters long.

The species was first collected by

butterworts
in cultivation.

The generic name Pinguicula is derived from the Latin pinguis (meaning "fat") due to the buttery texture of the surface of the carnivorous leaves. The

specific epithet moranensis refers to its type
location, Mina de Moran.

Plant characteristics

Summer rosette emerging from winter rosette

Habit

Pinguicula moranensis is seasonally dimorphic, in that it undergoes two distinct growth habits throughout the year. During the summer when rain and insect prey are most plentiful, the plant forms a ground hugging rosette composed of 6–8 generally

obovate leaves, each up to 95 millimeters (3+34 in) long.[8] These leaves are carnivorous, having a large surface area densely covered with stalked mucilaginous glands with which they attract, trap, and digest arthropod prey, most commonly flies. These so-called "summer leaves" are replaced by "winter rosettes" of small, glandless succulent leaves with the onset of the dry season in October. This protective winter rosette allows the plant to undergo winter dormancy until the first rains begin in May.[8] Flowers born singly on upright 10–25 centimeters (4–10 in.) peduncles emerge twice during the year (from the summer rosette and again from the winter rosette), a feature rare among the Mexican species.[9][10][11] In the summer these appear in June, peak in August and September, and disappear with the return to the winter rosette in October or November.[4]

Leaves and carnivory

Leaf color can be variable, even within a population. Oaxaca, Mexico

The leaf blades of the summer rosettes of P. moranensis are smooth, rigid, and succulent, varying from bright yellow-green to maroon in colour. The

orbicular, between 5.5 and 13 centimeters (2–5 in.) long and supported by a 1 to 3.5 centimetre (38–1 38 in.) petiole.[12]

As with all members of the genus, these leaf blades are densely covered by peduncular (stalked)

sundews. The droplets secrete only limited enzymes and serve mainly to entrap insects. On contact with an insect, the peduncular glands release additional mucilage from special reservoir cells located at the base of their stalks. The insect struggles, triggering more glands and encasing itself in mucilage. P. moranensis can bend its leaf edges slightly by thigmotropism, bringing additional glands into contact with the trapped insect. The sessile glands, which lie flat on the leaf surface, serve to digest the insect prey. Once the prey is entrapped by the peduncular glands and digestion begins, the initial flow of nitrogen triggers enzyme release by the sessile glands. These enzymes, which include amylase, esterase, phosphatase, protease, and ribonuclease break down the digestible components of the insect body. These fluids are then absorbed back into the leaf surface through cuticular holes, leaving only the chitin exoskeleton of the larger insects on the leaf surface.[13]

The holes in the cuticle which allow for this digestive mechanism pose a challenge for the plant, since they serve as breaks in the cuticle (waxy layer) that protects the plant from desiccation.[13] As a result, P. moranensis is usually found in relatively humid environments. The production of the stalked capture glands and sessile digestive glands is also costly. A recent study found that the density of these respective glands can be correlated to environmental gradients. For example, capture gland density was found to be highest where prey availability was low, whereas digestive glands density showed direct correlation to prey availability.[8] These results suggest that the amount of investment in carnivorous features is an adaptation to the environmental gradients.

Winter rosette

An inflorescence emerging from a winter rosette

The "winter" or "

spatulate or oblong-spatulate, and densely covered with fine hairs. The rosette is either open or compact and bulb-like, depending on variety (see below).[14]

Flowers

Pinguicula moranensis produces one to seven flowers during each flowering period. These are borne singly on upright flower stalks which are green to brown-green in color and usually, like the upper surface of the carnivorous leaves, are densely covered in glandular hairs; the peduncles do, in fact, trap insect prey. The peduncles are 10 to 25 centimeters (4–10 in.) long and taper from two to three millimeters (18 in.) at the base to one millimeter (116 in.) at the top.[12]

P. moranensis flower profile

The flowers themselves are composed of five

corolla. The flowers 30 to 50 millimeters (1 14–2 in.) long. Below the attachment point to the stem the petals are fused into a 15–30 millimeter long spur which protrudes backwards roughly perpendicular to the rest of the flower.[12][15]

The ovary and attached

anthers hang from recurved, 2 millimeter filaments behind the pistil.[16] Pollinators exiting after collecting nectar from the spur brush against the anther, transferring pollen to the stigma of the next flower they visit. The flowers can last up to 10 days but will wilt once they are pollinated.[17] Pollinated ovaries ripen into 5 millimeter (316 in.) dehiscent seed capsules containing numerous 1 millimeter long seeds.[16] The chromosome count for this species is 2n=44.[18]

Flower form from Querétaro, Mexico

The color and morphology of the flowers of this species is extremely variable, a source of delight to the horticulturist and headache to the taxonomist. Some generalizations, however, can be made.

The corolla flares open into five lobes, two upper lobes and three lower lobes. The upper lobes are 7–16 millimeters (1438 in.) long by 4–9 millimeters (53238 in.) wide and generally oblong, obovate, or cuneate. The lower lobes are similarly shaped and are 7–20 millimeters (1434 in.) long by 4–18 millimeters (53234 in.) wide. The central lower lobe is usually slightly longer than its neighbors. All of the petal lobes have rounded ends. The floral tube that houses the reproductive organs and is visible at the base of corolla lobes is white or lilac in color and 4–6 millimeters (53214 in.) long. The white color of the floral tube can extend to a variable distance onto the corolla lobes, particularly in a stripe on the lower middle lobe.[12] The color of the corolla lobes generally varies from pink to purple, but has been described by collectors as being "purple, scarlet, rosy-lavender to bluish-purple, dark pink to lavender, pinkish-purple, deep violet-purple, dark purple, bright mauve-pink, bright purple-pink, magenta with [white eye], [and] reddish pale with white eye."[19] A rare white-flowered form is also known.[19]

Flower color and morphology can vary greatly even within a population, an unusual feature in the species. This image shows variation in the size and shape of the white and dark markings, as well as the various petal shapes and sizes present. Oaxaca, Mexico.

Taxonomy

Sergio Zamudio Ruiz, in his 2001 revision of the section Orcheosanthus, called the identity and exact delimitation of P. moranensis "perhaps the most difficult problem to solve within the genus".[20] This difficulty is due mainly to the high variability and large geographic distribution of the species, which has given rise to the description of many synonyms since the species was first described nearly 200 years ago. Botanists have attempted to delimitate the species through various morphological, ecological and genetic methods, though to this date some debate remains as to the placement and description of P. moranensis and its relationship to the species to which it is closely related.

Alexander von Humboldt

Botanical history

Prior to Alexander von Humboldt and Aimé Bonpland's Latin American expedition in 1799–1804, only 8 Pinguicula species were known to science — 5 from Europe, 2 from North America and P. involuta from Peru. From 1803–1805, three additional species from Europe and North America were described, bringing the total of known species to 11.[2] In 1817, Carl Sigismund Kunth described 3 new species from Alexander von Humboldt and Aimé Bonpland'sLatin American expedition: The Peruvian P. calyptrata and the first known Mexican species: P. macrophylla and P. moranensis.[21] At this point no infrageneric classification had yet been suggested.

In 1844, a French-Swiss botanist by the name of

corollas with 5 sub-equal lobes, a short floral tube, and a large spur not protruding past this tube. He included four species in this section, all of them from Mexico: P. oblongiloba, P. orchidioides, P. caudata and P. moranensis. He excluded P. macrophylla H.B.K. on the grounds that it was a "dubious species".[22]

A print of P. caudata from Morren's work (1872)

The section Orcheosanthus grew as

Eugene Fournier added P. sodalium in 1873 and Sander proposed P. bakeriana in 1881.[2] In 1879–1888, however, botanist William Hemsley, after studying multiple specimens in herbariums and in culture, came to the conclusion that all the taxa placed in the section Orcheosanthus up to that point belonged to the same single species. Due to doubts as to the identity of the original two species described by Kunth, Hemsley decided to use the name P. caudata Schltdl. for his conglomerate species. This name has been "indiscriminately" applied to members of the complex ever since.[23]

Twentieth century

When Barnhart revised the family Lentibulariaceae in 1916, he recognized six species in the section Orcheosanthus, admitting however that this number was likely to change as others studied the section in the future. Sprague in 1928 proposed that the species joined by Hemsley were probably distinct, but that they were likely so interrelated that distinguishing between them would require observing characteristics that were usually or always indistinct in dried specimens.[24] Sprague recognized eight species in the section: P. moranensis H.B.K, P. caudata Schltdl., P. oblongiloba, P. flos-mulionis, P. bakeriana, a P. moranensis-like P. rosei described by Watson in 1911, and the very distinct P. gypsicola.[6]

In 1966, Casper published the first ever monograph of the genus. He clearly defined his taxonomic organization according to a broad range of morphological and phenotypic characteristics. Casper considered P. caudata, as well as various other taxa, to be synonyms of P. moranensis. He therefore recognized only 6 species for the section Orcheosanthus: P. moranensis, P. gypsicola, P. macrophylla H.B.K., P. oblongiloba, and the two recently discovered species P. colimensis and P. cyclosecta.[5] Since that time 14 additional species have been discovered and assigned to the section.[25] When Zamudio redefined the section in 1999, however, he chose to include only 12 species, including all six of Casper's choices.[6] P. moranensis, therefore, remains in the section Orcheosanthus, along with over a dozen synonyms it has inherited in its 200-year taxonomic history.

Phylogenetic studies take into account a broad range of plant characteristics, such as flowering time and morphology.

Phylogenetics

The varying importance which different authors have placed on various morphological characteristics when determining the taxonomy of the genus has long made the resulting subdivision of the genus a subject of controversy.

synapomorphies for various groups, providing evidence for a genetically based taxonomic structure. Their overall results did not support the placement of P. moranensis in the section Orcheosanthus, rather indicating that it should be placed in the section Longitubus along with P. laueana.[11]

In further disagreement with Zamudio's 2001 revision of the section Orcheosanthus, Cieslak et al.'s phylogenetic data indicated that P. rectifolia and several unnamed taxa that had been treated as synonyms of P. moranensis are in fact a distinct complex. They isolated several morphological characteristics that could be used to differentiate between the complexes, including floral spur length (longer in P. moranensis), flower color (never with a blue tinge in P. moranensis), and the shape of the lateral corolla lobe (exhibiting a twist in P. rectifolia).[11] A more thorough study analyzing numerous P. moranensis populations and other members of closely related taxa is needed to resolve this complex.

Varieties

After extensively studying P. moranensis in habitat, Zamudio (1999) came to the conclusion that the species could be divided into two distinct

varieties, mainly on the basis of the shape of the leaves composing their winter (resting) rosettes:[4]

This variety has open winter rosettes composed of leaves which are spatulate in shape and have an obtuse or rounded end. It tends to grow in limestone-based substrates.

  • Pinguicula moranensis Kunth in Humb., Bonpl. et Kunth. var. neovolcanica

This variety has a closed, bulb-like rosette of winter leaves which are acicular (pointy) at the tip. It tends to grow on igneous substrates.

Zamudio also noted that these subspecies differed in their preference of soil substrate. He first noted this while attempting to find the population of plants from which

French national museum of natural history. The other populations in the area grew on substrate of igneous origin and more closely matched Hooker's 1846 description of P. orchidioides.[26] These latter plants then became the new variety, P. moranensis ssp. neovolcanica.[4]

Distribution and habitat

Distribution of P. moranensis in Mexico and Guatemala

Pinguicula moranensis is the most widely distributed member of the

igneous rocks of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt.[16]

P. moranensis growing on a tree trunk in Tamaulipas

Pinguicula moranensis most often grows in oak,

pine-oak, or temperate montane woodlands. However, its distribution penetrates into tropical forests and xerophytic shrublands, as well as in gorges and canyon walls with high environmental humidity. P. moranensis prefers humid and shady environments, such as slopes by streams, gullies, or road cuts, or among leaf litter in sandy soil high in organic matter. Its ability to gather nutrients from the arthropod prey it catches allows it to grow in low-nutrient environments where other plants would usually out-compete it. As a result, it is often found in disturbed areas or on steep cliffs or hillsides. Since its roots do little more than provide anchorage, the plant requires little or no soil, and dense clusters can be found clinging onto boulders, moss or crags in rock faces, or even epiphytically on tree trunks. Common companion plants include mosses, Selaginella, ferns and other herbaceous plants, as well as canopy trees such as pines and oaks.[16]

Cultivation

Pinguicula moranensis is one of the most popular and commonly cultivated Pinguicula,

peat moss, gypsum and/or decomposed granite. Soil should be kept well drained, but watered regularly with distilled water in the summer and only very rarely once the plant enters its winter rosette. The species grows readily on well-lit windowsills, under fluorescent lights, or in warm to hot greenhouses.[27]

Hybrids and cultivars

Although no natural hybrids involving P. moranensis have been reported, the species is known to hybridize quite readily in cultivation. As a result, a number of cultivars involving the species have been registered and are recognized by the International Carnivorous Plant Society:[28]

Hybrid cultivars involving Pinguicula moranensis
cultivar name parentage description
Pinguicula 'George Sargent' Hort. Slack P. moranensis × gypsicola Lilac flowers, strap-shaped leaves, large winter rosettes.
Pinguicula 'Hameln' Hort. Studnicka P. gypsicola × moranensis Wider, P. moranensis like foliage.
Pinguicula 'John Rizzi' Hort. D'Amato P. moranensis × ? Large, full flowers; oval, marginless undulating leaves.
Pinguicula 'L'Hautil' Hort. L.Legendre & S.Lavayssiere P. (ehlersiae × moranensis) × moranensis Two forms ("Grande" and "Petite"). P. 'Sethos' × P. 'Huahuapan'
Pinguicula 'Mitla' Hort. Studnicka[29] P. gypsicola × moranensis Wider, P. moranensis like foliage.
Pinguicula 'Pirouette' Hort. J.Brittnacher, B.Meyers-Rice & L.Song P. agnata × (moranensis × ehlersiae) Hardy clone, attractive rosettes of pink leaves.
Pinguicula 'Sethos' Hort. Slack P. ehlersiae × moranensis Large flowers with a white star-like center.
Pinguicula 'Weser' Hort. Slack P. moranensis × ehlersiae Large flowers with single white streak down central lower lobe and dark veins.

Additionally, three clones of P. moranensis have been registered as cultivars:[2]

Cultivars of Pinguicula moranensis
cultivar name origin description
Pinguicula 'Huahuapan' Hort. Slack Huajuapan de León, Oaxaca, Mexico Lilac-pink flowers with crimson touches at their base.
Pinguicula 'Libelulita' Hort.
Rice
& Salvia
southern Mexico Square-tipped petals, pale purple at edges darkening to deep velvet-red near base, heavily veined, white center.
Pinguicula 'Vera Cruz' Hort. Slack Veracruz, Mexico Deep rose with basal markings.

Notes

  1. ^ Zamudio 2001, p. 160–161, 182.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Schlauer, Jan: Carnivorous Plant Database, version November 15, 2005, 16:25.
  3. ^ "Pinguicula moranensis Kunth". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Zamudio, S. 1999
  5. ^ a b Casper, S.J. 1966
  6. ^ a b c d e Zamudio, Sergio 2001[page needed]
  7. ^ As an example, see Speta 1989. Of the three species described by Speta & Fuchs, two (P. rectifolia and P. potosiensis) were rejected as synonyms by Zamudio 2001, while P. rectifolia was supported by Ciezlak et al.'s phylogenetic study in 2005.
  8. ^ a b c Alcalá, R.E. & Dominguez, C.A. 2005
  9. ^ Peduncle length: Zamudio 2001, p. 158.
  10. ^ According to Cieslak et al. 2005, P. moctezumae, P. moranensis, P. emarginata, P. species 'Huahuapan' and P. rectifolia all share this trait.
  11. ^ a b c d Cieslak et al., 2005
  12. ^ a b c d Zamudio 2001, p. 158.
  13. ^ a b Legendre, L. 2000
  14. ^ Zamudio 2001, p. 161.
  15. ^ According to Cieslak (2005), the spur length is a diagnostic feature when differentiating this species from P. recitoflia. Cieslak asserts that in P. moranensis the spur is more than 50% longer than the rest of the corolla.
  16. ^ a b c d e Zamudio 2001, p. 159.
  17. ^ Legendre, L. Pollination of Pinguicula flowers. Retrieved on January 2, 2007.
  18. ^ Zamudio 2001, p. 60.
  19. ^ a b Zamudio 2001, p. 184.
  20. ^ Zamudio 2001, p. 26; "La identidad de Pinguicula moranensis y su delimitación precisa es quizás el problema más difÍcil de resolver dentro del género."
  21. ^ From Zamudio 2001, orig. Humboldt, A., A. Bonpland & C.S. Kunth. 1817
  22. ^ From Zamudio 2001, orig. A.P. De Candolle 1844
  23. ^ Zamudio 2001, p. 26.
  24. ^ The difficulty of basing taxonomical work in the genus Pinguicula solely on dried specimens has been noted by several frustrated botanists. McVaugh & Mickel in their 1963 notes on the section Orcheosanthus noted that "Herbarium study of these plants is difficult and frustrating because the leaves and other vegetative and reproductive structures are so fragile that dried specimens are seldom adequately preserved. Usually but a single flower is found on a plant, and the extraordinarily fragile pressed flowers often lose their original color and shape to a very large extent. Often neither vegetative nor reproductive structures can be studied without severe damage to the specimen" (McVaugh, 1963). Barnhart (1916) had stated that "the range of variation is enormous, but how much is seasonal, how much individual, and how much of taxonomic importance, is (based on herbarium samples alone) at present mere guesswork" (Barnhart, 1916). This conclusion was echoed by Sprague (1928), Ernst (1961), and McVaugh (1963).
  25. ^ Zamudio 2001, p. 29.
  26. A. De Candolle
    . Hooker described a plant he saw growing at Kew Botanical Gardens and, thinking it to be similar to Candolle's P. orchidioides, applied that name.
  27. ^ a b D'Amato P. 1998, p. 203–205.
  28. ^ International Carnivorous Plant Society, Registered Cultivar Names—Pinguicula Archived 2007-03-18 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on January 2, 2007.
  29. ^ An illegitimate homonym of this cultivar exists. Peter D'Amato describes a P. moranensis clone under this name in The Savage Garden (1998).

References

External links