This is how I prefer carnivorous plants.
In situ.
I just found another Pinguicula grandiflora spot here in Vercors. One that wasn't available through the literature I had or given to me by a good friend. We were hiking with the family, searching for beautiful waterfalls, soothing landscapes, birds, insects and other delicacies to photograph when I had the feeling that we were entering what might be a good Pinguicula location. I was right this time, luckily (I had been wrong a few times before ;-)). So quickly, I ventured into the humid slopes where dozens large Pinguicula grandiflora could be seen thriving.
It was not that easy to not walk on the plant themselves but I managed nonetheless to admire them very closely (while my wife enjoyed shooting my clumsy silhouette wandering on the treacherous slope! ;-)
Once again, because it was already late in the year, I wasn't able to enjoy the flowers (it's not possible for me to travel to southern France in the plant flowering period) but I didn't mind this time. The place was beautiful and so were those green rosettes.
There were seepages almost everywhere and the scent of mosses and various plants combined with the ticking of drops on the rocks made it a memorable experience.
While some plants were literally growing on bare rock, most were developing on a thick fluffy carpet made of moss and litter.
A close inspection reminds the diet of these singular plants. They are carnivorous ladies and gentlemen! ;-) As far as I could see, most of the preys were dipteran and ants.
But, occasionally, one could find larger preys such as caddisflies (order: Trichoptera). I was quite amazed by the numbers of insects these Pinguicula caught here. These particular specimens were certainly not starving!
And after that enjoyable mini-adventure, it was a happy François that was slowly returning to the trail where others discoveries were awaiting... :)
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