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A new species and section of Utricularia (Lentibulariaceae) from northern Australia

2008; National Herbarium of NSW; Linguagem: Inglês

10.7751/telopea20085802

2200-4025

A. Lowrie, Ian Cowie, John G. Conran,

Plant Parasitism and Resistance

A minute, reddish-purple-flowered, new species of Utricularia L. subgenus Utricularia (Lentibulariaceae) is described and illustrated: Utricularia simmonsii Lowrie, Cowie & Conran from the western Top End of the Northern Territory and near Lockhart River and Tozer's Gap, Iron Range in far north Queensland.The species represents possibly the world's smallest-flowered carnivorous plant.It shows some affinities to Utricularia sections Enskide and Pleiochasia, but possesses a combination of features not found in any other Utricularia species.The tiny flowers have an open, gullet throat, virtually lack a spur (both unusual features in the genus), the traps lack obvious trigger or guiding hairs, and the seeds have almost fingerprint-like swirled sculpturing.Because of its distinctness, it is placed into a new section: Minutae Lowrie, Cowie & Conran.A key to the Utricularia taxa found in Northern Australia is also provided.