Utricularia fenshamii R.W.Jobson APNI* Description: Small to medium-sized perennial, terrestrial herb. Rhizoids capillary, simple, up to 20 mm long 0.1–0.3 mmthick, numerous from base of peduncle, with one or a few from nodes of stolon. Stolons few, filiform 0.2–0.3 mm thick, unbranched, up to 50 mm long, internode length c. 1 mm long, nodes slightly thickened.
Leaves numerous, several from base of the peduncle and often in threes from stolon internodes, petiolate; lamina fleshy c. 0.15 mm thick, 0.2–0.5 mm wide, 3–8 mm long, linear to narrowly obovate, single nerve, apex rounded. Traps stalked, numerous at base of peduncle and up to three at nodes of stolon, ± uniform, ovoid, 1.5–2.5 mm long, mouth lateral, with an inward folding dorsal appendage simple 0.3–0.5 mm long, two lateral appendages somewhat flattened, laciniate on terminal margin, ventral wings laciniate.
Inflorescence erect, solitary 80–250 mm long; peduncle terete, glabrous, hollow near base, 0.5–1 mm thick. Scales absent. Bracts and bracteoles c. 2 mm long, similar, basifixed, ovate-deltoid with apex acute. Flowers 2–4, often 3, rarely 1, in opposite pairs, occasionally on an elongated axis, pedicels erect, dorsiventrally flattened, 5–10 mm long. Calyx lobes unequal; upper lobe c. 3 mm long, 2.6 mm wide, ovate with apex rounded; lower lobe c. 2.5 mm long, 2.2 mm wide with apex emarginate. Corolla blue-violet; lower lip 6–10 mm long with three yellow raised ridges at base with central ridge twice the length of those immediately adjacent, bordered marginally by a whitish band, two white outer ridges c. equal in length to the adjacent yellow ridges. Lower lip with limb transversely elliptic, apex rounded, slightly 3-lobed, palate pubescent, with a marginal rim; spur whitish or violet, subulate, straight or weakly curved forwards near the apex, at 90o from, and slightly shorter than the lower-lip; upper lip c. 5 mm long, constricted at middle, at which point it is straight or reflexed to c. 30 degrees, superior part truncate with apex entire or slightly emarginate, inferior part ovate, ciliate on margin. Staminal filaments curved, c. 1.5 mm long, anther thecae subdistinct. Ovary ovoid, c. 1 mm long; style c. 0.8 mm long; stigma with lower lip semicircular, upper lip deltoid.
Capsule globose, 2–4 mm diam.; walls thin, dehiscing by a single, ventral, longitudinal, weakly thickened slit. Seeds obovoid, c. 0.75 mm long, 0.3 mm wide.
Flowering: Flowers and fruits recorded from August until May
Distribution and occurrence: Apart from a single non-mound spring collection west of Wee Waa in New South Wales, this species is restricted to wetlands associated with discharge mound springs across the Great Artesian Basin. NSW subdivisions: NWP, NFWP. Other Australian states: QLD, SA. Inhabiting permanent to semi-permanent wetlands fed by artesian discharge springs.
NSW subdivisions: NWP, NFWP
Other Australian states: Qld S.A.
Text by R.W. Jobson
Taxon concept: Telopea 15: 127-142 (2013).
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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