Utricularia podadena P.Taylor

Lentibulariaceae, P. Taylor. Flora Zambesiaca 8:3. 1988

Habit

Terrestrial herb.

Rhizoids and Stolons

Rhizoids and stolons numerous from the base of the peduncle.

Leaves

Leaves few, scattered on the stolons, obovate-spathulate, up to 6 ×1 mm., 1-nerved.

Traps

Traps few, stalked, ovoid, c. 0.3 mm. long; mouth lateral with a single reflexed subulate, apically shortly bifid dorsal appendage and 2 much shorter subulate ventral appendages.

Inflorescences

Inflorescence erect, up to 24 cm. tall; peduncle filiform, sparsely covered (as are the bracts, bracteoles, pedicels, calyx and spur of corolla) with multicellular gland-tipped hairs; flowers 3–9, distant; scales few, similar to the bracts; bracts basifixed, ovate with apex subacute, c. 0.7 mm. long; bracteoles basifixed, narrowly oblong, about as long as the bracts; pedicels filiform, spreading at anthesis, deflexed in fruit, up to 7 mm. long.

Calyx

Calyx lobes unequal; upper lobe quadrate with apex rounded, c. 2 mm. long; lower lobe about as long, narrowly oblong with apex emarginate.

Corolla

Corolla yellow, c. 8 mm. long; superior lip transversely oblong, 2–3 times as long as the upper calyx lobe; inferior lip transversely elliptic with apex obscurely 3-crenate; palate slightly gibbous, obscurely longitudinally 4–6 ridged; spur straight or slightly curved, subulate, about as long as and widely diverging from the inferior lip.

Stamens

Filaments linear; anther-thecae subdistinct.

Pistil

Ovary ovoid, glandular above, style very short, narrowly winged above; stigma inferior lip circular; superior lip much smaller, deltoid.

Fruits

Capsule globose, 1.5–2 mm. long, dehiscing by a ventral, longitudinal, marginally thickened slit.

Seeds

Seeds numerous, ovoid, obscurely reticulate; testa cells elongate, irregular.