Aldrovanda vesiculosa

Flower name
Aldrovanda vesiculosa
Scientific name
Aldrovanda vesiculosa
Alias狢藻, Waterwheel, Waterwheel plant
Place of originAfrica, Australia, Eurasia and Japan
Place of floweringRiver, pond
Flowering seasonJuly, August

What is Aldrovanda vesiculosa

Aldrovanda vesiculosa commonly called as mujinamo (in Japanese), waterwheel or Waterwheel plant (scientific name: Aldrovanda vesiculosa) is a planktonic insectivorous plant (aquatic perennial) of the family Droseraceae found in Africa, Australia, Eurasia and Japan. The mucinamo alone forms a genus and a species. MUJINAMO was discovered in 1890 by Dr. Tomitaro Makino in an irrigation pond in Koiwa, Edogawa Ward, Tokyo. They float on the surface of the water and have a 5-30 cm long stem with a 0.7 cm long petiole. At the end of each petiole is a 0.5 cm long, bilobed, insectivorous leaf that opens and closes to collect and digest zooplankton and small animals such as Daphnia magna for food. It rarely blooms, but occasionally produces small white flowers for 2 to 3 hours in July and August. The name comes from the fact that the shape of the algae resembles the tail of a muzina (raccoon dog or badger), and the name "tanukimo" was substituted for the name already in use, which was originally intended.

Common name: Aldrovanda vesiculosa, scientific name: Aldrovanda vesiculosa, aka: mujinamo (in Japanese), water wheel, water wheel plant, distribution: Africa, Australia, Eurasia, Japan, environment: swamps, ponds, irrigation channels, Stem length: 5-30 cm, Petiole length: 0.7 cm, Cap leaf length: 0.5 cm, Root: no, Flowering season: July to August,Flowering time: 2 to 3 hours, Remarks: Endangered IA (CR).