Pinguicula vulgaris - Butterwort - (Lentibulariaceae)

Butterwort is widespread in the north and western areas of the UK and Ireland. It is a carnivorous plant that grows in bogs and seasonal damp flushes including dune slacks that are submerged in water during the winter.

Pinguicula vulgaris is common throughout northern and central European countries including Slovenia where it is also possible to see the closely related Alpine Butterwort, Pinguicula alpina.

Butterwort is hairy and sticky, and when an insect alights on a butterwort leaf it becomes trapped on the sticky surface glands. The insect’s struggle to escape stimulates the leaf to curl around the hapless victim and release enzymes that digest it. When only the dry shuck remains the leaf uncurls ready for the next meal. In this way, butterwort is able to thrive on very poor acidic soil.

Butterwort

Butterwort blooms from May to August, depending on altitude and the site exposure to cold winds.

The pictures on this page were taken at Tregaron Bog National Nature Reserve in West Wales.