Hi everyone,
After much searching I finally managed to locate one of my favourite Utricularia species growing in the wild. I hadn't seen the plant for over 8 years but thought I'd make an extra effort to find it this Spring. In the end I found it growing in a wetland area which was only 5 minutes drive from my house. I had thought that the area looked a promising spot but had never visited it at the right time of year.
After walking for an hour and a half through knee deep water I finally found the plants right where I had begun- isn't that always the way! So after ruining my shoes, soaking my pants and straining my hamstring these are the photos I have for my efforts. Some aren't as good as I'd like so I plan getting back after work this week when it isn't so windy.
By the way, the plant was Utricularia beaugleholei which is a plant that I doubt anybody grows or has even seen besides in Lowrie's 3rd book (my photos too). Hope you like them.
Firstly, a picture of the habitat. The area is bounded by a freeway on one side, an industrial estate and an old airforce base on the others. It is a seasonal wetland (dries out in Summer) which is kneedeep water throughout the entire area. The U. beaugleholei plants were found in the foreground on the edge of the wetland where the soil was just beginning to dry out. In winter the plants would have been growing in a foot of water, at the moment the plants are in wet soil but not submerged-
Next, a single plant growing amongst reeds and nardoo(water fern)-
A closeup of a single flower-
Another closeup-
A typical 3 flowered whorl with more buds in the centre-
And finally a small group of plants flowering together-
This plant was once considered to be the same as U. dichotoma until myself and a friend "discovered" it in the early 90's. I can't believe it took botanists so long to realise that the 2 are distinct species.
Now I just need to collect a few seeds and get the plant growing in my collection so that I can spread it around.
Regards,
Sean.
After much searching I finally managed to locate one of my favourite Utricularia species growing in the wild. I hadn't seen the plant for over 8 years but thought I'd make an extra effort to find it this Spring. In the end I found it growing in a wetland area which was only 5 minutes drive from my house. I had thought that the area looked a promising spot but had never visited it at the right time of year.
After walking for an hour and a half through knee deep water I finally found the plants right where I had begun- isn't that always the way! So after ruining my shoes, soaking my pants and straining my hamstring these are the photos I have for my efforts. Some aren't as good as I'd like so I plan getting back after work this week when it isn't so windy.
By the way, the plant was Utricularia beaugleholei which is a plant that I doubt anybody grows or has even seen besides in Lowrie's 3rd book (my photos too). Hope you like them.
Firstly, a picture of the habitat. The area is bounded by a freeway on one side, an industrial estate and an old airforce base on the others. It is a seasonal wetland (dries out in Summer) which is kneedeep water throughout the entire area. The U. beaugleholei plants were found in the foreground on the edge of the wetland where the soil was just beginning to dry out. In winter the plants would have been growing in a foot of water, at the moment the plants are in wet soil but not submerged-
Next, a single plant growing amongst reeds and nardoo(water fern)-
A closeup of a single flower-
Another closeup-
A typical 3 flowered whorl with more buds in the centre-
And finally a small group of plants flowering together-
This plant was once considered to be the same as U. dichotoma until myself and a friend "discovered" it in the early 90's. I can't believe it took botanists so long to realise that the 2 are distinct species.
Now I just need to collect a few seeds and get the plant growing in my collection so that I can spread it around.
Regards,
Sean.