Utricularia reflexa Oliv.

Lentibulariaceae, P. Taylor. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1973

Morphology General Habit

Aquatic herb.

Vegetative Multiplication Stolons

Stolons filiform to relatively thick and fleshy, up to 50 cm. long or more, 0.3–3.0 mm. thick, glabrous or ± densely covered with simple or stellate hairs which extend also to the traps, basal part of the leaves and scapes; internodes 2–10(–15) mm.

Morphology General Rhizoids

Rhizoids usually absent but when present 2–3 from the scape base, capillary, 3–5 mm. long.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves very numerous, digitately divided to the base into 2–5 primary segments, 3–30 mm. long; primary segments ovate in outline, repeatedly dichotomously divided; ultimate segments capillary, setulose.

Morphology General Traps

Traps inserted in the angles between the primary segments and between subsequent dichotomies, very variable in number and size, ovoid, shortly stalked, 1–6 mm. long; mouth lateral; upper lip with 2 simple to copiously branched hairs; lower lip naked or with shorter simple hairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence lateral, 1.5–18 cm. high; flowers 1–3(4), distant, the lowermost sometimes very near the base of the scape; scape erect or rarely twining, filiform; scales absent; bracts basifixed, quadrate or orbicular, ± encircling the base of the pedicel, 1–3 mm. long; bracteoles absent; pedicels filiform, erect at anthesis, strongly reflexed or recurved in fruit, 2–35 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx-lobes subequal, broadly ovate, 1–2 mm. long, scarcely accrescent, apex obtuse or rounded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla pale to quite deep yellow, usually with brown or reddish nerves, ± densely covered externally with fine short hairs, rarely glabrous, 3–15 mm. long; upper lip broadly ovate or orbicular, apex truncate or rounded, entire or emarginate, 1.5–3 times as long as the upper calyx-lobe; lower lip orbicular to subreniform, apex ± emarginate or 2-lobed; palate raised, bigibbous; spur cylindrical, ± as long as the lower lip.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Filaments linear; anther-thecae ± confluent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary globose; style short or obsolete; stigma lower lip semi-orbicular, sometimes ciliate, upper very short or obsolete.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule globose, circumscissile, 3–4 mm. in diameter, few–many-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds lenticular, angular, 0.4–0.8 mm. wide, often narrowly winged on the angles; testa reticulate, cells distinct, isodiametric or ± elongate.

Lentibulariaceae, P. Taylor. Flora of West Tropical Africa 2. 1963

Morphology General Habit

Aquatic with long stolons bearing short lateral scapes

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

1 to 4 yellow flowers, the pedicels elongating and reflexing in fruit.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/107436024/144009715

Conservation

LC - least concern

Lentibulariaceae, P. Taylor. Flora Zambesiaca 8:3. 1988

Morphology General Habit

Aquatic herb.

Vegetative Multiplication Stolons

Stolons filiform to relatively thick and fleshy, up to 50 cm. x 0.3–3.0 mm., or more or less densely covered with simple stellate hairs which extend also to the traps, basal part of the leaves and peduncle; internodes 2–10(15) mm.

Morphology General Rhizoids

Rhizoids usually absent but when present 2–3 from the peduncle base, capillary, 3–5 mm. long.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves very numerous, digitately divided to the base into 2–5 primary segments, 3–1.30 mm. long, repeatedly dichotomously divided, the ultimate segments capillary, setulose.

Morphology General Traps

Traps inserted in the angles between the primary segments and between subsequent dichotomies, very variable in number and size, ovoid, shortly stalked, 1–6 mm. long; mouth lateral with 2 dorsal simple to conspicuously branched hairs and sometimes with ventral shorter simple hairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence lateral, 1.5–18 cm. high; flowers 1–3(4), distant, the lowermost sometimes very near the base of the peduncle; peduncle erect or rarely twining, filiform; scales absent; bracts basifixed, quadrate or circular, more or less encircling the base of the pedicel, 1–3 mm. long; bracteoles absent; pedicels filiform, erect at anthesis, usually strongly deflexed or decurved in fruit, 2–35 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx lobes subequal, broadly ovate, 1–2 mm. long, scarcely accrescent, with apex obtuse or rounded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla pale to quite deep yellow, usually with brown or reddish nerves, more or less densely covered externally with fine short hairs, rarely glabrous, 3–15 mm. long; superior lip broadly ovate or circular, with apex truncate or rounded, entire or emarginate, 1.5–3 times as long as the upper calyx lobe; inferior lip circular to subreniform, with apex more or less emarginate or 2-lobed; palate raised, bigibbous; spur cylindrical, more or less as long as the inferior lip.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Filaments linear; anther-thecae more or less confluent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary globose; style short or obsolete; stigma inferior lip semi-circular, sometimes ciliate, superior very short or obsolete.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule globose, circumscissile, 3–4 mm. in diam., few-many-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds lenticular, angular, 0.4–0.8 mm. wide, often narrowly winged on the angles; testa reticulate, cells distinct, isodiametric or more or less elongate.