Kiwi Earl Posted February 1, 2012 Report Share Posted February 1, 2012 (edited) The following images are of Utricularia gibba which has established itself on a local farm pond in the Hokianga Harbour district of the far north of New Zealand's North Island. In January of 2011 U.gibba began to appear in the water of a land contour supplied dammed pond which had been constructed mid way through 2010. These photos taken last week highlight the proliferation of the species over the course of 12 months. This is the Far North form as discovered in a single location by Bruce Salmon in the late 1990's and described by him in his book Carnivorous Plants of New Zealand, 2001 (Ecosphere Publications). With readily produced seed without the need for a natural pollinator and a spur that is shorter than the three lobed lower collora it resembles the U.gibba form found in Eastern Australia being distinct from the more common West Coast form found in locations north and south to the west of Auckland, New Zealand, the two forms being separated by significant geographical distance. With good foundation Salmon concludes that the form arrived via migrating wading birds from the east coast of Australia. It has been spreading about the far north region of the North Island and the population in the pond featured here likely owes its existence in the location to transient Anas platyrhynchos, the Mallard duck. The other possible vector for the spread of the form is the human introduction to ponds of water lillies which can contain sections of the bladderwort. As can be seen, although on a working farm rather than a lifestyle property, this pond has a water lilly in it. U.gibba is listed by the Auckland Council as a plant pest and it is illegal under biosecurity legislation to propagate, distribute, sell or spread the species within New Zealand. There is evidence that U.gibba is displacing the aquatic reluctant pollen producer U.australis in the far north region (Salmon). However, drought patterns in recent years in the region may have contributed to the reduction of U.australis. The final photo here taken at the same time in 2011 gives a clear indication of just how vigorously U.gibba Far North form has established itself over the intervening 12 months. Edited February 3, 2012 by Kiwi Earl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zlatokrt Posted February 1, 2012 Report Share Posted February 1, 2012 Wow, that is a really dense population. BTW: "reluctant pollen producer U. australis" - do you mean, that New Zealand australis produce even seeds sometimes? Adam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Hingst Posted February 1, 2012 Report Share Posted February 1, 2012 Hi Earl, I was surprised to read that U. gibba is a weed in NZL - as a cosmopolitan species I thougt it should be native in NZL as well. At least it made itself at home pretty well - very nice sight! Regards Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimscott Posted February 1, 2012 Report Share Posted February 1, 2012 Reminds me of dandelions! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlos Rohrbacher Posted February 1, 2012 Report Share Posted February 1, 2012 Nice location, NZL looks a good place to see CPs in wild. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheInactiveMoth Posted February 1, 2012 Report Share Posted February 1, 2012 Cool! Like a yellow haze above the water! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miloslav Macháček Posted February 1, 2012 Report Share Posted February 1, 2012 Holly utric! That looks pretty awesome :-) Nice yellow gibba field! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Earl Posted February 1, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2012 Wow, that is a really dense population. BTW: "reluctant pollen producer U. australis" - do you mean, that New Zealand australis produce even seeds sometimes? Adam There may be some seed produced by U.australis here in NZ but observations haven't recorded it as far as I know. Finding seed capsules here would be truly rare event. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel O. Posted February 2, 2012 Report Share Posted February 2, 2012 It´s not my favourite Utricularia but this field looks really great. Thanks for sharing. Best regards, Dani Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fernando Rivadavia Posted February 3, 2012 Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 OMG, it's beautifully dense! And to think I almost didn't open it when I saw it was "merely" U.gibba! Thanks! Fernando Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Earl Posted February 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 OMG, it's beautifully dense! And to think I almost didn't open it when I saw it was "merely" U.gibba! Thanks! Fernando No problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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