Utricularia quinquedentata Species Profile

Utricularia quinquedentata Species Profile

Utricularia quinquedentata is a terresterial bladderwort endemic to tropical northern Australia. The species is most notable for its diminuitive size.

U. quinquedentata is named for the five lobes of the lower corolla lip. The upper corolla lip is split into two lobes. The petals are coloured white, with yellow around the centre of the bloom. The entire flower is only around 1-2 mm wide. The peduncle on which the blooms are borne are hair thin.

The species is widely distributed in tropical Northern Australia. I observed it in Darwin, where it was commonly found in sandy seepage areas in the floodplains. The plants bloom after the floodwaters receed and the substrate is exposed to air.

Note the small size of the flower
Side view of bloom
Top-down view of the bloom. Note the five lobes of the lower corolla lip.
Back view. Note the two lobes on the upper corolla lip.
A bloom amongst the leaves of D. dilatatopetiolaris
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