Question
Hi Jeff and Jacob

  I just ordered a P. medusina from you and I noticed that it looks remarkably like a P. gypsicola. I was wondering if this was a relative, or have they renamed P. gypsicola to  P. medusina ?

 In addition I am thinking of trying to grow a CP at work under a light. Keeping in mind that office environments tend to be pretty dry do you think this would be a good candidate to try or is there something better. I would like to try  a tropical so that I don't have to worry about dormancy.

Also if you have an idea of how many lumens I would need to provide that would be great as well.

Thanks
Nicole
90 miles north of NYC  

Answer
Hi Nicole,

P. medusina is a distinct species that's unrelated to P. gypsicola.  P. medusina is native to Oxaca, which is in southern Mexico, while P. gypsicola is native to San Luis Potosi, which is in central Mexico.  Their flowers are also different, which is the proper way to identify Pinguicula species.  The flowers on P. gypsicola is purple and similar in shape to P. moranensis, while the flowers on P. medusina is bluish white with a blue trim and similar in shape to P. agnata.

For your office, start off with any of the Mexican butterworts.  They require the least amount of light intensity.  If they grow well, you can move up to some of the easier Nepenthes, such as Nepenthes sanguinea and Nepenthes alata. (DeRoose Alata will also be fine.  These plants will adapt to lower humidity if the lighting is adequate enough.  

Good growing!
Jacob Farin