Botanical art
Common names
Tiny Bladderwort
Small Bladderwort
Etymology
Utricularia from the Latin 'utriculus' meaning a small bottle or bladder; referring to a small insect trapping sac attached to the underground leaves. Lateriflora from the Latin 'latus' meaning side and 'florus' meaning flower; referring to the species having lateral flowers. Due to the short pedicels the flowers appear to be fastened directly to the peduncle axis.
Distribution and status
Found on Kangaroo Island, the southern Mount Lofty ranges and the lower South-east in South Australia, growing in heathland on wet, sandy or peaty soils. Also found in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. Native. Rare in South Australia. Common in the other states.
Herbarium regions: Southern Lofty, Kangaroo Island, South Eastern
NRM regions: Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges, Kangaroo Island, South East
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Tiny terrestrial herb usually only observed when flowering. Leaves inconspicuous, scarcely emerging above the ground, very narrowly obovate to 20 mm long and 0.5 mm wide. Inflorescence erect, solitary or sometimes with 2 or more reddish stalk, with up to 5 pale lilac to mauve or violet with white or yellow spot at base of lower lip flowers. Flowering between October to January. Fruits are reddish brown globular capsule to 3 mm diameter, splitting into two. Seeds are tiny, brown and ovoid to 0.3 mm long and 0.2 mm wide.
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds between November and February. Collect mature capsules, those turning reddish brown colour, fat and containing brown seeds. Can collect individual capsules or break off the whole stem. Place the capsules in a tray and leave to dry for two weeks. Then rub the capsules gently by hand to dislodge the seeds. Use a sieve to separate the unwanted material. Store the seeds with a desiccant such as dried silica beads or dry rice, in an air tight container in a cool and dry place. Seed viability is usually high.
Location | No. of seeds (weight grams) | Number of plants | Date collected | Collection number Collection location | Date stored | % Viability | Storage temperature |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MSB | 27,000 (0.26 g) | 8-Jan-2008 | DJD1026 South Eastern | 80% | |||
BGA | 3,600 (0.06 g) | 100+ | 16-Dec-2008 | DJD1432 Kangaroo Island | 20-Jul-2009 | 100% | -18°C |
BGA | 53,400 (0.47 g) | 100+ | 12-Dec-2017 | DJD3711 South Eastern | 30-Jun-2018 | 95% | -18°C, -80°C |
BGA | 21,000 (0.169 g) | 100 | 14-Jan-2021 | JRG792 Kangaroo Island | 28-Jun-2021 | 95% | -18°C |
BGA | 20,600 (0.165 g) | 100 | 12-Jan-2021 | DJD3959 Kangaroo Island | 28-Jun-2021 | 100% | -18°C |