What is Utricularia?

About Utricularia:

• Utricularia (bladderwort) is a genus of carnivorous plants in the family Lentibulariaceae.
• Currently, 220 listed species occupying temperate and tropical habitats throughout the world; it is the most diverse and widespread genus of carnivorous plants.
• They are characterized by small hollow sacs that actively capture and digest tiny animals such as insect larvae, aquatic worms, and water fleas.
• Bladderworts can be found in lakes, streams, and waterlogged soils around the world, and several are invasive species that have spread to novel habitats.
• Bladderwort plants lack roots and usually have a horizontal floating stem bearing simple or divided leaves.
• Small carnivorous bladders are produced along the stem can range from dark to transparent in color.
• Bladderworts trap small organisms in their tiny bladders, which have a trap door that is triggered by hairs on the door.
  • When prey comes in contact with the hairs, the door opens in a millisecond, sucking the animal in and closing in about 2.5 milliseconds. 
• The flowers are bisexual and bilaterally symmetrical.

Key Facts about Keoladeo National Park:

• The Keoladeo National Park, formerly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, is located in the eastern part of Rajasthan. 
• Declared a national park in 1981, it was renamed Keoladeo for the ancient temple in the park dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. 
• It is strategically located in the middle of the Central Asian migratory flyway.
• It is spread across 2,873 hectares of woodlands, grasslands, wetlands, and woodland swamps. 
• Vegetation: The vegetation here is of a dry deciduous type, with medium-sized trees and shrubs found inside its forest. 
• Flora: Some of the trees which can be commonly spotted inside the park are kadam, jamun, babul, kandi, ber, kair, and piloo.
• Fauna:
  • Keoladeo is home to more than 360 species of permanent and migratory birds.
  • During the annual period of migratory visitors (about October to March), birds from throughout the world can be found in the park.
  • Among those wintering in the park are waterfowl from Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, China, and Siberia, including species such as gadwalls, shovellers, common teals, tufted ducks, pintails, white spoonbills, Asian open-billed storks, Oriental ibises, and the rare (possibly extinct) Siberian crane. 
  • The park is also home to a range of mammals and reptiles—including pythons and other snakes, deer, sambars, blackbucks, jackals, monitor lizards, and fishing cats—as well as some 50 species of fish and 25 species of butterflies.
• It is a Ramsar site and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Q1: What are the benefits of Utricularia?

The dried leaves are used to make medicinal tea. People take bladderwort for treating urinary tract disorders including kidney stones and urinary tract infections (UTIs). They also take it to treat spasms, fluid retention, and swelling; to stimulate gallbladder secretions; and to promote weight loss.

Source: ETV

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