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Utricularia (Bladderwort)

 

Diminutive yellow flower is elevated above water surface on a short stem.
Bladders are leaves modifed into a "trap" for zooplankton.
Modified from an image at vilaslandandwater.org

 

 

Turion, an overwintering bud on Utricularia.
Modified from an image at vilaslandandwater.org

 

 

Utricularia vulgaris bladders
Image posted at awc-america.com

 

 

Utricularia macrorhiza bladders
Image by Larry Strich posted at fs_fed_us

 

 

Utricularia macrorhiza bladders
Image by Barry Rice posted at fs_fed_us

 

 

Utricularia sp. flower
Image by Janet Creamer posted atindyparks.blogspot.com

 

 

Utricularia sp. bladders
Image by Wontolla65_pro posted at flickr.com

 

 

Utricularia sp. seeds, Finland
Image by Jouko Lehmuskallio posted at luontoportti.com

 

 

Utricularia biflora bladder (utricle) showing (A) a pair of dendritic antennae, and (B) several bristle trichomes (Thurston and Seabury, Fig. 1). Although the utricle is considered to be a trap for zooplankton, the opening is far too small for any object larger than about 80 - 100 um such as small rotifers, but excluding even the smallest cladocera such as Daphnia spp. and copepods such as Cyclops spp.

 

 

Utricularia biflora bladder (utricle) or microinvertebrate 'trap' with fast-moving closure mechanism showing (T) four trigger trichomes attached to floor of door, (LG) long stalked globose trichomes, and (SP) short-stalked pyriform trichomes (Thurston and Seabury, Fig. 2).

Thurston, E.L., and F. Seabury 1975. A scanning electron microscopic study of the utricle trichomes in Utricularia biflora Lam. Botanical Gazette 136:87-93.

 

Utricularia sp. bladder (utricle) similar to above image, with yellow-green trigger filaments (false color). Photograph by Igor Siwanowicz on 'Wired Science' posted online

 

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