Utricularia leptorhyncha Species Profile

Utricularia leptorhyncha Species Profile

Utricularia leptorhyncha is a terrestrial bladderwort endemic to the Top End of the Nothern Territory and the Kimberleys in Western Australia.

The species has medium sized flowers that are coloured purple. The lower corolla lip is divided into three distinct lobes. The outer two lobes extend outwards on a horizontal axis, forming a ‘T’ shape with the middle lobe. The palate has two small ridges that are variably coloured white to orange, and is framed by dark purple markings. The upper corolla lip is small and sometimes notched. The spur is slender and it is from this feature that the specific name is derived (leptos = slender, rhynchos = beak). The lower part of the peduncle near the base is covored with stiff hairs, as are the bracts.

U. leptorhyncha grows in seasonally wet sandy soils in floodplains, depressions and sandstone pavements. It comes to bloom at the end of the wet season as its habitat starts to dry out. The species is distinguished from others by its three broad lobes that are arranged in a ‘T’ formation. This is somehwat similar to U. arnhemica and some taxa within the U. lasiocaulis complex, but the outer lobes of those species are spread at a lesser angle.

A specimen covered by morning dew. Note the three broad lobes of the lower corolla lip that are arranged in a ‘T’ shaped formation.
The lower part of the peduncle is covered with hairs
The bracts are also covered with hairs but this is less apparent in this specimen.
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