Predatory Aldrovanda Vesicular

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

Bladder Aldrovande can be found in various corners - in the water bodies of Ukraine, Moldova, Central Asia, the Far East, Southeast Asia, southern Russia, etc. This amazing plant is a predator that feeds on small zooplankton (usually ciliates and crustaceans). However, despite such an interesting feature, bubble aldrovande can be safely placed in aquariums - this aquatic inhabitant does not pose any danger to the fry of aquarium fish. And its decorativeness is so high that it can decorate absolutely any body of water

Getting to know the plant

Aldrovanda bubbly is the only representative of the beautiful Rosyankovye family that grows in the aquatic environment. This plant, floating near the surface of the water, has no roots and is endowed with very thin stems that can grow up to fifteen centimeters in length. Filiform stems of vesicular aldrovanda branch slightly. On them, in whorls of 6 - 9 pieces, tiny leaves are rather densely located. All leaves are equipped with petioles, elongated in the form of wedges and covered at the tips with rather long cilia bristles. They are also equipped with bivalve shell-shaped plates, slightly swollen in the middle. The leaf glands of bladder aldrovanda all the time secrete a sticky liquid - in connection with this feature, all surfaces of the leaves look as if they are covered with dew drops.

This predator is endowed with a special trapping mechanism that helps it to hunt for zooplankton and consists of two halves of leaves located at an angle to each other. The edges of these leaves are equipped with special bristles bent inward, serving as receptors for aldrovanda vesicular - when the victim touches these bristles, the trapping mechanism automatically slams shut. As a result, the crustacean or ciliates are gradually squeezed by the closed leaves. And the digestive glands of the plant secrete special enzymes that kill zooplankton before digesting it.

The flowers of Aldrovanda bladder are free-standing, small and painted white. They are built according to the five-fold type. Blooming of this bizarre plant can be observed in July and August - tiny flowers playfully rise above the water surface. And the fruit ovaries of the predatory beauty are developed into five-leaf capsule capsules.

Aldrovand bladder is an entomophilous cross-pollinated plant for which pollination of flowers by insects is extremely important. However, even under natural conditions, this happens very rarely.

The luxurious insectivorous predator got its name in honor of Ulysses Aldrovandi, an Italian scientist of the Renaissance. By the way, she is a relative of the sundew, which grows mainly in peat bogs.

How to grow

Tropical varieties of bladder aldrovandy thrive throughout the year, and plants that prefer a temperate climate in winter can die even when grown in aquariums. Reservoirs with stagnant water are most preferable for the full development of this predatory beauty. However, in open areas, it sometimes cannot withstand competition with other aquatic vegetation.

When growing aldrovand vesiculosus in aquariums, it is important to take into account that, although it does not pose a danger to fish fry, it can periodically eat food intended for juveniles, and small zooplankton, especially.

As for water, when growing bubble aldrovand, for every five liters of water in reservoirs, a glass of peat should be added. The water should be cleared of tadpoles and algae, if necessary, replace it. And it is desirable to provide lighting for this predator as bright as possible.

Reproduction of bladder aldrovand occurs mainly vegetatively, since there are usually few insects above the water, respectively, pollination of a beautiful plant is extremely rare.