Plants of
South Australia
Utricularia barkeri
Lentibulariaceae
Bill's Fairy Apron,
Barker Bladderwort,
Purple Bladderwort
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Regional Species Conservation Assessments per IBRA subregion.
Least concern
Near threatened
Rare
Vulnerable
Endangered
Critically endangered
Extinct
Data deficient
Adelaide
Arkaroola
Ceduna
Coober Pedy
Hawker
Innamincka
Marla
Marree
Mount Gambier
Oodnadatta
Renmark
Wudinna
Keith
Yunta
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Botanical art

Kath Alcock paintings: 7

Common names

Bill's Fairy Apron

Barker Bladderwort

Purple 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. Barkeri named after Dr William (Bill) R. Barker, former Chief Botanist of the State Herbarium of South Australia, who has made significant contributions to Australian botany with studies of Australasian Scrophulariaceae and various other families.

Distribution and status

Found on Kangaroo Island and the South-east in South Australia, growing lowland swampy heaths. Also found in Victoria and Tasmania. Native. Rare in South Australia. Uncommon in the other states. Possible more common due to confusion with Utricularia dichotoma.
Herbarium regions: Kangaroo Island, South Eastern
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)

Plant description

Tiny terrestrial herb. Leaves few, basal to flowering stem and on stolons, linear to narrowly obovate to ovate or spathulate, to 12 mm long and 0.6 mm wide. Inflorescence solitary, erect, to 28 cm long, with 1 to 3 light mauve flowers, upper lip oblong, distinctly constricted about the middle, lower lip much larger, fan-shaped. Flowering between October and January.

This species differs from Utricularia dichotoma with presence of basiolute bracts with upper and lower lobes

of equal length and corolla upper lip light mauve with purple flecks. Fruits are reddish brown globular capsule to 3.5 mm diameter.

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.

Seeds stored:
  Hide
LocationNo. of seeds
(weight grams)
Number
of plants
Date
collected
Collection number
Collection location
Date
stored
% ViabilityStorage
temperature
BGA 
MSB
28,700 (0.64 g)
28,700 (0.64 g)
100+14-Dec-2017DJD3721
South Eastern
30-Jun-201895%-18°C, -80°C
BGA61,900 (0.520 g)100+1-Dec-2021BKB21
Kangaroo Island
7-Jul-202295%-18°C, -80°C
Location: BGA — the seeds are stored at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, MSB — the seeds are stored at the Millennium Seed Bank, Kew, England.
Number of plants: This is the number of plants from which the seeds were collected.
Collection location: The Herbarium of South Australia's region name.
% Viability: Percentage of filled healthy seeds determined by a cut test or x-ray.