Question 1

What is Utricularia aurea?

Accepted Answer

Utricularia aurea, or golden bladderwort, is a free-floating carnivorous aquatic plant native to tropical Asia, including Sri Lanka. It catches microscopic prey using small bladder-like traps on its submerged stems. The plant produces distinctive yellow flowers above the water surface when in bloom.

Question 2

Where is Utricularia aurea found in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

It grows in shallow, still or slow-moving freshwater bodies such as village irrigation tanks, paddy field channels, and marshy backwaters across Sri Lanka's low-country wet and intermediate zones. It is most commonly encountered where water quality is relatively undisturbed by heavy agricultural chemical use.

Question 3

Is Utricularia aurea used in ayurvedic medicine?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The plant is included in Sri Lanka's official catalogue of ayurvedic medicinal plants. Traditional applications include its use as a cooling agent and in formulations associated with urinary tract health, though rigorous clinical studies on this species are limited.

Question 4

Is Utricularia aurea a carnivorous plant?

Accepted Answer

It is. Utricularia aurea uses tiny bladder traps distributed along its submerged stems to capture microscopic aquatic organisms. When a small organism touches trigger hairs near a bladder's entrance, a trapdoor opens and the prey is sucked inside within milliseconds.

Question 5

How does Utricularia aurea survive without roots?

Accepted Answer

The plant is rootless and obtains water and some dissolved nutrients directly through its submerged tissues. It supplements this with nutrients extracted from the prey it traps in its bladders. This dual strategy allows it to thrive in nutrient-poor water bodies where rooted plants might struggle.

Question 6

What does Utricularia aurea look like?

Accepted Answer

Underwater, the plant appears as fine, feathery green strands interspersed with small bladder structures. During flowering, it sends up short emergent stalks bearing bright yellow, two-lipped flowers with a spur at the base, making them easy to recognise above the water surface.

Question 7

Is Utricularia aurea endangered in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

The species is not currently classified as globally threatened. In Sri Lanka, habitat loss through wetland drainage, tank degradation, and water pollution is a growing concern that may affect local populations over time. Protecting the island's freshwater ecosystems helps ensure its continued presence.

Utricularia aurea

Other species in this genus