• Passiflora foetida
• Ibicella lutea
• México

Q: Carnivorous plants of México--a Pinguicula stronghold!

A: With a diversity of habitats, México contributes well to our global carnivorous plant biodiversity. It is home to species of Drosera, Genlisea, Utricularia, Pinguicula, and Catopsis. México is also home to Passiflora foetida and Capsella bursa-pastoris, two plants that may or may not be carnivorous. Furthermore, while I have not yet found citable references to support me, I suspect that the non-native Ibicella lutea also occurs in México.

Remember that I warned you that the compendia of species lists on this page date to maybe around 2007. For more updated information, you will have to do more digging!

• P. reticulata
• P. moranensis
• P. gypsicola
• P. esseriana

Pinguicula
The strength of México's carnivorous plant biodiversity is surely in the genus Pinguicula. The list of Mexican species includes many species, nearly all of which are endemic--many carnivorous plant aficionados visit the country just to see plants in this genus! The states of Oaxaca, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí, Hidalgo, and Nuevo León have at least five species each. Oaxaca is the clear winner, with at least fourteen species, i.e., nearly twice as many species as the other most species-rich states.

• D. capillaris
• D. brevifolia

Drosera
México is surprisingly weak on representation in this genus. It is possible that more species will be detected in the country in the future. For example, I would not be surprised if Drosera intermedia occurs in México, as its range includes the USA and Cuba. The Drosera are known to occur in México include Drosera brevifolia and Drosera capillaris. No doubt more will be found.

Genlisea
G. filiformis has been collected from Chiapas; possibly more occur there.

• U. gibba
• U. amethystina
• U. purpurea
• U. macrorhiza
• U. livida

Utricularia
Utricularia has many species in the country, and more are sure to be documented in the future. The species U. resupinata and U. olivacea occur in countries adjacent to México, and are candidates for being detected there in the future. Currently we know of the following species, and probably more are to be found or described: U. amethystina, U. foliosa, U. gibba, U. hintonii, U. hispida, U. hydrocarpa, U. juncea, U. livida, U. macrorhiza, U. petersoniae, U. perversa, U. purpurea, U. pusilla, U. regia, and U. subulata.

Are there yet other species that have not been discovered, or is our knowledge of the ranges of the species above incomplete? Claro que sí!

• Back to carnivorous plants of the world

Page citations: García, M.O. & Martínez S.E. 2002; Rice, B.A. 2006a; Rivadavia, F. 2008 (pers. comm.); Robinson, A., et al. 2017; Taylor, P. 1989; USDA, GRIN, accessed 8/2008; personal observation.