6927: Two flowers (natural site specimens) June 21, 1969

69175: Winter buds and roots (natural site specimens) October 10, 1969

70148: Two aberrant flowers (natural site specimens) July 26, 1970

70149: Two aberrant flowers (natural site specimens) July 26, 1970

7707: Habitus (natural site specimen) June 17, 1977

Origin of depicted specimens: Switzerland, Canton Bern, Prealps, Trogenmoos/Grünenbergpass (N of Interlaken), 1500m, slightly acid soil.

The specimens shown in 70148 and 70149 have only 4 corolla lobes and the calyx is in axial position at the very end of the tubular corolla throat, 'behind' the rudimentary spur, while in normal flowers it is 'in front' the spur. I guess in this growth disorder the flower development was stopped in an early, 'atavistic' stage, showing how Pinguicula flowers might have looked in an earlier phase of the evolution of this genus.

Pinguicula alpina is the only winter-bud-forming species with perennial roots. For comparison see winter buds of P. algida or P. grandiflora.