Pale Butterwort

Wetlands and bogs are under appreciated. Since the land is unusable for grazing and farming, bogs are often drained and destroyed. In reality they serve a valuable purpose and many think of these lush wet places as the kidneys of the Earth. The plants and micro-organisms that live in bogs and wetlands clean and supply water to rivers and lochs. Bogs also store carbon in the form of peat. If drained the carbon, which has been stored for thousands of years, is released into the atmosphere contributing to global warming. The destruction of wetlands and bogs leads to greater pollution, risk or flooding and loss of species. One rare and beautiful bog species in Scotland is the Pinguicula Lusitanica or Pale Butterwort. Found in West Sutherland, West Ross, Inverness-shire, Argyll and the Hebrides, the Pale Butterwort thrives on wet, open peat or mineral soil. This plant is carnivorous and eats small flies and other insects. The curled leaves trap the insects which are then broken down by the digestive enzymes in the leaves. It is striking in appearance with red veins in pale green leaves. The blossoms are pink with throats of red and yellow stripe. The Pale Butterwort is at risk due to drainage, peat-extraction, moor burning, eutrophication and trampling.

Bibliography:
Lusby, Philip and Wright, Jenny. Scottish Wild Plants: Their History, Ecology and Conservation. Mercat Press, 2001.