Utricularia dichotoma

Utricularia dichotoma
File:Utricularia dichotoma.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Lentibulariaceae
Genus:	Utricularia
Subgenus:	Polypompholyx
Section:	Pleiochasia
Species:	U. dichotoma
Binomial name
Utricularia dichotoma Labill. (1804)
Synonyms
Pleiochasia dichotoma (Labill.) Barnh. (1916) Utricularia billardieri F.Muell. (1868) nom.illeg. Utricularia canacorum Pellegr. (1920) Utricularia colensoi Hook.f. (1853) Utricularia dichotoma var. uniflora (R.Br.) Benth. (1869) [=U. uniflora] Utricularia linearifolia Benj. (1847) [=U. dichotoma/U. inaequalis] Utricularia monanthos Hook.f. (1860) Utricularia moorei F.E.Lloyd (1936) Utricularia novae-zelandiae Hook.f. (1853) Utricularia oppositiflora R.Br. (1810) Utricularia oppositifolia Spreng. (1824) sphalm.typogr. Utricularia rotundifolia auct. non Merl ex Luetz.: F.E.Lloyd (1937) nom.nud. Utricularia speciosa R.Br. (1810) Utricularia subsimilis Colenso (1884) Utricularia vulcanica Colenso (1894)

File:Utricularia dichotoma Kingston Tasmania.jpg

Utricularia dichotoma from Kingston, Tasmania, Australia, grown in cultivation

Utricularia dichotoma, commonly known as fairy aprons, is a variable, perennial species of terrestrial bladderwort. The specific epithet is Latin for "dividing into pairs" and refers to the double arrangement of flowers which this species often displays.

Morphology

Utricularia dichotoma is a low stoloniferous herb with leaves variable in size and shape. According to Curtis, they can range from oval-spathulate and 2–4 mm long to narrow-lanceolate and up to 40 mm long. The former is more typical of plants growing in wet soil, the latter of plants growing fully submerged. Inflorescences are 5–30 cm high, terminating in one or two pairs of flowers, or whorls of three. Numerous underground stolons bearing bladders 1.5–2 mm in diameter.

Distribution and habitat

This species has a large range and is native to New Caledonia, Australia (where it is present in all territories except Northern Territory and ACT) and New Zealand. Here it is present in the North Island, South Island and Stewart Island/Rakiura - this being the most southerly location at which a member of this genus occurs.