The butterwort species Pinguicula chilensis Clos is one of two species known to grow in Chile (the other being P. antarctica). According to Casper (1966), P. chilensis occurs along the Central Andean Mountain Range, ranging from 35° southern latitude (Laguna del Maule) to 38° southern latitude (Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi). It is also found in the Valdivian Coastal Cordillera. The Andean habitat of P. chilensis is wet meadows (locally called mallín) at the edge of melting snow fields on volcanoes and other high mountains. The plants grow in altitudes of 1700 to 3000 m. Little is known about the habitat in the Valdivian Coastal Mountains.