| Utricularia dichotoma | |
|---|---|
| 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) |
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| Synonyms | |
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Utricularia dichotoma, commonly known as fairy aprons,[1] 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.[2]
Utricularia dichotoma is a low stoloniferous herb with leaves variable in size and shape. According to Curtis[3], 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[3].
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.[2] 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.[2]