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Native Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Family:    

Pinguicula pumila (Bog violet)
Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia

Pinguicula pumila Michx.

Bog violet, Dwarf butterwort, Small butterwort

Lentibulariaceae (Bladderwort Family)

USDA Symbol: PIPU4

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Small butterwort grows 6–8 inches tall above a basal rosette of broad, succulent leaves. The few leaves form a rosette at the base of the plant and have a sticky surface that captures small insects. The margin of the leaf rolls inward over the insect until it is digested. There is 1 flower, whitish or pale violet, about 3/4 inch across, funnel-shaped, somewhat 2-lipped, with 5 petal-like lobes and a spur at the base, like a larkspur.

All Pinguicula spp. bear short glandular hairs, and clammy leaves designed to trap small insects.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Annual
Habit: Herb
Fruit:
Size Class: 0-1 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Violet
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun

Distribution

USA: AL , FL , GA , LA , MS , NC , OK , SC , TX
Native Distribution: Coastal plain from s.e. NC to s.e. TX
Native Habitat: Moist, sandy pinelands and savannas
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil Description: Moist, acid, poor nutritive soils.
Conditions Comments: Prefers moist, damp areas.

Benefit

Interesting Foliage: yes

Propagation

Description: Sow butterwort seeds as soon as mature on damp, long-fiber sphagnum. Keep moist is partial sunlight for germination in 90 days.
Seed Collection: Not Available
Seed Treatment: Not Available
Commercially Avail: yes

Bibliography

Bibref 248 - Texas Wildflowers: A Field Guide (1984) Loughmiller, C. & L. Loughmiller

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From the Archive

Wildflower Newsletter 1996 VOL. 13, NO.2 - Annual Wildflower Days Festival, Wildflower Center Hotline, The Visitor Experien...

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Pinguicula pumila in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Pinguicula pumila in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Pinguicula pumila

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-08-24
Research By: TWC Staff

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