Pinguicula vulgaris
Butterwort
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Lentibulariaceae
- Genus
- Pinguicula
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 0.08 m
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
Uses
Edible uses
The plant can be used to curdle plant milks[8][9][10]. The milk is poured over a strainer on which fresh leaves of butterwort have been laid. The milk is then left for a day or two until it sours when it becomes solid like yoghurt and is considered to be most delicious. A small quantity of the milk can be kept to inoculate further batches[5]. Another report says that the leaves are infused in the milk for some time[2].
- Product or use
- Curdling agent
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
Butterwort is little used in contemporary herbal medicine, though it was commonly used in the past as a purgative in Wales[7]. Its main application is as a cough remedy[7]. The leaves are antispasmodic and antitussive[11][3]. The plant is an effective treatment for whooping cough[11]. Used externally as a poultice, it has a healing effect on the skin[11]. The leaves are harvested in early summer as the plant comes into flower and are dried for later use[11]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the plant[12]. It is used in the treatment of whooping cough and nervous throat irritations[12].
- Product or use
- Antispasmodic
- Product or use
- Antitussive
- Product or use
- Homeopathy
Material uses
A colouring substance is obtained from the leaves[11].
- Product or use
- Dye
Environment
- Range
- Europe, including Britain, from Iceland south and east to Spain, Macedonia and N. Asia. N. America.
- Habitat
- Boggy soils on wet rocks and damp places, avoiding shady places[4].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- high
- Hardiness
- Zone 3+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing the seed in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe in the summer if this is possible otherwise in early spring. Place the pots in shallow water to keep them moist. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first two growing seasons. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division of the resting buds in the winter[6]. Leaf cuttings.
Cultivation
Requires a boggy soil[1]. Because of their insectivorous habit, plants are able to succeed on soils very deficient in nitrogen. Butterwort is an insectivorous plant, the leaves are sticky and trap insects which are then digested by the plant[11]. Plants overwinter as a tight winter-resting bud with virtually no roots[6].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain.
Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Freethy. R. From Agar to Zenery. The Crowood Press 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-946284-51-2
Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5
Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2