Twining Bladderwort
<p>This pretty face hides a killer secret. <em>Utricularia reticulata</em> is a large twining insectivorous herb endemic to India and Sri Lanka. It belongs to the group known as ‘bladderworts’ because it bears several sac-like inflated bladders on the roots and lower side of leaves, which help it trap minute aquatic animals. Each bladder is like a balloon with a small opening guarded by a trap door, and equipped with sensitive hair.</p>
<p>The species spreads in large colonies on moist lateritic plateaus and rice fields. Aquatic fauna flows into the bladder, guided by gentle water currents, and then the water diffuses out, while the prey remains trapped and is digested by the enzymes. The digested matter is absorbed by the plant. This species, once common in wet areas along coastal plateaux, is a victim of changing land use patterns. Flowers are collected for monsoon festivals in Maharashtra, Goa and Kerala, but decreasing availability is affecting this practice.</p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size:12px;">Photo: Ashok Captain/Aparna Watve</span></strong></p>
