For House Plant Appreciation Day, I’ve put together a photo blog of observations on the Pinguicula, Butterwort, plant that I purchased just before Christmas. It was sold simply as a carnivorous plant. As this is not your standard house plant, I worried that I wouldn’t be able to keep it alive. I’ve been fascinated by its sticky leaf surface, the way the flowers are held high and turn to the light, etc.
Sticky leaf rosette from above 
Side view of newly developing leaves in rosette centre
© Karen Andrews
Note Pinguicula leaf and stem hairs. Centre rises to light. © Karen Andrews
© Karen Andrews
Pinguicula bud 
Newly opened violet-coloured Pinguicula flower
Rear view of new Pinguicula flower 
Side view of Pinguicula flower with visible hairs
Colour fades to lilac as the Pinguicula flower ages 
Pinguicula flowers last a surprisingly long time
Pinguicula is a member of the carnivorous Lentibulariaceae family. The Creative Commons illustration below shows how it catches prey on its mucilaginous leaves.
![Ilustration Credit Noah Elhardt [CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)]](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pinguicula_vector_en.svg){kind=link}
Pinguicula may not be your standard house plant. It has been fascinating to observe on a daily basis. So far it hasn’t been difficult to keep alive on my window sill. I water it with rainwater and it catches its own flies.
© Karen Andrews
Copyright Note
Karen does not seek or receive any commercial interest or advantage from this blog. She is not promoting any business venture. She simply loves to share fascinating facts about plants. These pages illustrate her love of plants, botany, biodiversity, gardens and creative expression. There is always so much to learn about plant diversity. This blog is designed as a showcase for photography, commentary on plants and wildlife, gardens and other places visited, horticulture and related topics. Viewpoints are her own, not those of her employer.
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