Fairy aprons facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fairy aprons |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Utricularia
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| Species: |
dichotoma
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Utricularia dichotoma, also known as fairy aprons, is a special type of plant. It is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. This plant is a terrestrial bladderwort, which means it grows on land and has tiny traps called bladders. The name dichotoma comes from Latin and means "dividing into pairs." This refers to how its flowers often grow in groups of two.
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What Does Utricularia dichotoma Look Like?
Utricularia dichotoma is a small plant that spreads using underground stems called stolons. Its leaves can look very different. Some leaves are short and oval-shaped, about 2–4 millimeters long. These are usually found on plants growing in wet soil. Other leaves are long and narrow, up to 40 millimeters long. You might see these on plants that are fully underwater.
The plant's flower stalks, called inflorescences, can grow from 5 to 30 centimeters tall. At the top of these stalks, you'll find one or two pairs of flowers. Sometimes, the flowers grow in groups of three. Underground, the stolons have small bladders. These bladders are like tiny traps, about 1.5–2 millimeters wide. They help the plant catch tiny insects.
Where Do Fairy Aprons Grow?
This plant can be found in many places. It is native to New Caledonia, Australia, and New Zealand. In Australia, you can find it in all states except the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory.
In New Zealand, it grows on the North Island, South Island, and Stewart Island/Rakiura. Stewart Island is the southernmost place where any plant from the Utricularia genus grows. This shows how tough and adaptable the fairy aprons plant is!
Images for kids
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Habit
See also
In Spanish: Utricularia dichotoma para niños
