Aldrovanda Bladder

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Aldrovanda vesiculosa (Latin Aldrovanda vesiculosa) - a plant-predator, the main food of which is small zooplankton (crustaceans, ciliates, etc.). Such an interesting name was given to the plant in honor of Ulysses Aldrovandi, the famous Italian scientist of the Renaissance. And this water beauty is also a relative of the well-known sundew, which grows mainly in peat bogs.

Description

Aldrovanda bubbly is the only representative of the Rosyankovye family growing in the aquatic environment. This beauty floating near the water surface has no roots and boasts incredibly thin stems that can grow up to fifteen centimeters in length. The filamentous stems of this aquatic inhabitant branch slightly, and tiny dense leaves are arranged on them in whorls of six to nine pieces. All leaflets are equipped with petioles elongated in the form of wedges, the tips of which are covered with rather long cilia bristles. In addition, each leaf is also equipped with a shell-shaped bivalve plate, slightly swelling in the middle. The leaf glands of an unusual plant continuously secrete a rather sticky liquid - in this regard, the surfaces of the leaves look as if they are covered with dew drops.

The amusing bubbly aldrovanda boasts a special trapping mechanism that significantly facilitates the process of hunting for zooplankton - this mechanism is formed by two halves of leaves located at an angle to each other. And the edges of these leaves are equipped with special bristles bent inward that function as receptors - as soon as the victim touches these bristles, the ingenious trapping mechanism will instantly automatically slam shut, and the ciliate or crustacean will gradually begin to be clamped by the closing leaves. And the bizarre digestive glands of Aldrovanda vesicularis secrete special enzymes that kill the zooplankton before they begin to digest it.

Free-standing and built according to the five-fold type, the flowers of the bubbly aldrovandy are painted in white tones and differ in truly miniature sizes. This beauty usually blooms in July and August - small flowers begin to playfully rise above the water surface. And the fruit ovaries of the aquatic predator are developed into amusing five-leaf capsule capsules.

Aldrovand vesiculosus is an entomophilous cross-pollinated plant for which regular pollination of flowers by various insects is very important. But it only happens very infrequently, even in natural conditions.

Where grows

It will not be difficult to meet the bladder Aldrovande in the reservoirs of the southern part of Russia, the Far East, Central Asia, Ukraine, Southeast Asia and Moldova.

Usage

Aldrovanda bladderworm thrives in aquariums - although it feeds on zooplankton, it poses no threat to the fry of aquarium fish. True, this aquatic inhabitant sometimes eats food intended for juveniles. But this amazing plant boasts a truly impressive decorative effect.

Growing and caring

The tropical varieties of this plant thrive throughout the year, and those that prefer a temperate climate can die in the winter, even if they are grown in aquariums. The most suitable for the full development of bubble aldrovand will be reservoirs with stagnant water. It is important to take into account that in open areas it sometimes does not compete with other aquatic vegetation.

In the reservoirs in which bubble aldrovanda is grown, for every five liters of water, it is necessary to add a glass of peat. Also, the water should be thoroughly cleaned of algae and tadpoles, and if necessary, it should be replaced. As for the lighting, it should be as bright as possible.

This wonderful plant reproduces almost always vegetatively, since insects rarely pollinate it.