Utricularia babui

Utricularia babui is a small-flowered Utricularia with lanceolate leaves only a few millimeters across. The flowers, about 7 mm in diameter, are a striking, vibrant blue to violet. Individual flower stalks continue to grow, reaching a height of about 10 cm over two to three months, and continuously producing new flowers. Utricularia babui originates from the west coast of India, where it grows along the banks of small streams in open, sunny locations.

Various (hobby) sources describe it as an annual or monocarpic plant. However, we cannot confirm this. Under consistent conditions (e.g., in a terrarium), it is perennial and continues to flower and grow steadily. Botanical databases also invariably describe it as a perennial.

Utricularia are carnivorous plants with leaves modified into suction traps. These are either underground (in terrestrial species) or suspended in water (in aquatic species). A vacuum is created inside the small, bladder-like traps. When microorganisms (including water fleas, rotifers, nematodes, and paramecia) come into contact with the lids of these traps, they touch tiny hairs that trigger the trapping mechanism.

These hairs act as levers, gently pushing the lid inwards. This allows water to flow in. The subsequent abrupt pressure equalization forces the water, along with the prey, into the trap's bladder. The trap then closes again. This is one of the fastest known movements in the plant kingdom; the opening and closing process takes less than two milliseconds!

Glands within the trap then begin digesting the prey. Simultaneously, the trap begins pumping out the excess water, thus creating the necessary negative pressure for the next catch. This process can be completed in as little as fifteen minutes.

If the traps are the leaves, what are the green leaves you see on the surface? These are actually the plant's stems, which have broadened and taken over the function of leaves. They are called phylloclades.

You will receive a small but already flowering plant in a 6cm pot.