Cuban Butterwort
Pinguicula albida
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Yoannis Domínguez, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Yoannis Domínguez
Overview
Cuban Butterwort (Pinguicula albida) is a small carnivorous plant endemic to Cuba, characterized by its rosette of pale green, sticky leaves that trap and digest small insects. The plant produces delicate white or pale purple flowers on slender stalks and plays an important ecological role as both predator of small arthropods and prey for specialized herbivores in its native ecosystem.
Cuban Butterwort (Pinguicula albida) is critically endangered due to its extremely restricted range limited to a few locations in Cuba's mountainous regions. The species faces severe threats from habitat destruction through mining activities, agricultural expansion, and infrastructure development in its specialized serpentine soil habitats.
Habitat
Cuban Butterwort grows exclusively on wet limestone cliffs, cave entrances, and seepage areas where water continuously drips or flows over calcareous rock faces. These specialized microhabitats provide the constant moisture and mineral-rich conditions essential for the species' survival.
Other threatened species in Lentibulariaceae
Frequently asked questions
Why is Cuban Butterwort classified as Critically Endangered?
Where does Cuban Butterwort live?
What are the main threats to Cuban Butterwort?
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