Alpine butterwort

Appearance

''P. alpina'' is a small perennial herb, reaching a height of 5–15 cm when in flower. The plant is supported by 1–2 cm long roots, which are fleshy, yellow-white and branching. ''P. alpina'' is the only temperate ''Pinguicula'' which retains these roots year-round; the roots of other temperate species wither with the winter dormancy. This allows it to invest more of its income into long-term storage, compared to other subarctic ''Pinguicula'' which are income breeders and invest these nutrients into immediate plant size and flowering increases.

Distribution

''P. alpina'' is found in high altitudes and latitudes throughout Europe and Asia, with the densest populations concentrated in the Alps and northern Scandinavia. Around the last ice age the plant was distributed throughout Asia, where it still remains today in Siberia, Mongolia, and the Himalayas. ''P. alpina'' is one of the most widely distributed members of the genus ''Pinguicula''.

Status

Due to its widespread distribution, ''P. alpina'' enjoys a relatively secure future. In some regions in Europe, however, it is uncommon enough to be threatened by development or agriculture. The species, for example, used to be found in northern Scotland, but has since been eradicated there and is no longer found growing natively on the British Isles. The species is protected in Germany by the "Bundesartenschutzverordnung", and is also protected locally in some Swiss cantons and the Pannonian and Alpine foothill regions of Austria.

Habitat

This species grows from sea level in northwest Siberia to altitudes of up to 4,100 m , in open, sunny locations. The plant prefers wet soils such as seeps with alkali to neutral pH. ''P. alpina'' is, however, unusually tolerant of soil dryness for a temperate butterwort. It is typically found in subalpine seeps or bogs or alpine rock-meadows.

In alpine locations ''P. alpina'' is often found growing with ''Carex firma'' , ''Bistorta officinalis'', ''Dryas octopetala'', and ''Pedicularis rostratocapitata''. Here it most often grows in a ''Caricetum firmae'' plant association, part of the ''Seslerion albicantis'' plant community.

In montane locations it is most often associated with ''Caricion davallianae'' and ''Cratoneurion commutati'' plant communities, growing together with ''Schoenus nigricans'', ''Schoenus ferrugineus'', ''Epipactis palustris'', ''Cochlearia officinalis'' and ''Pinguicula vulgaris''.
Due to its widespread distribution, ''P. alpina'' enjoys a relatively secure future. In some regions in Europe, however, it is uncommon enough to be threatened by development or agriculture. The species, for example, used to be found in northern Scotland, but has since been eradicated there and is no longer found growing natively on the British Isles. The species is protected in Germany by the "Bundesartenschutzverordnung", and is also protected locally in some Swiss cantons and the Pannonian and Alpine foothill regions of Austria.

Reproduction

Healthy plants produce 3 mm bulblets at the leaf axils following the flowering period. These form new plants the following year, serving as a means of vegetative reproduction. Plants in arctic habitats do not form these bulblets.

Uses

European folk medicine didn't distinguish between various butterwort species, but prescribed them for sores, swelling, sciatica, and liver disease, as well as stomach aches, chest pain and respiratory problems. Its supposed effectiveness against these ailments is attributed to the cinnamic acid found in the plants.