U.calycifida, how does it "eat"?

U.calycifida, how does it "eat"?#86660

By GardenNub -  Thu Feb 03, 2011 6:10 am
Posts:  176
Joined:  Sat Jan 29, 2011 1:01 am

- Thu Feb 03, 2011 6:10 am #86660

So i was going through some older posts just reading and looking at pictures when I came across a post about U.calycifida. It said something about it trapping its prey in little white balls in the roots? What does it eat and how does this work?

Re: U.calycifida, how does it "eat"?#86679

By stitz25b -  Thu Feb 03, 2011 1:17 pm
Posts:  2247
Joined:  Mon Sep 27, 2010 11:10 am

- Thu Feb 03, 2011 1:17 pm #86679

it eats small lifeforms like daphnia and peat bug. (i saw one catch a tadpole. you should you tube it) the traps, when triggered, create a vauum and suck to bug i the traps

Be polite
Be efficient

Re: U.calycifida, how does it "eat"?#86681

By Grey -  Thu Feb 03, 2011 1:26 pm
Posts:  3255
Joined:  Mon Jul 26, 2010 3:48 pm

- Thu Feb 03, 2011 1:26 pm #86681

Like stitz said, all Utricularia have tiny bladders (hence the name "Bladderwort") attached to their roots. These bladders have a microscopic trigger hair which, when activated, opens the bladder which ejects any air that is inside, this then causes it to flood (creating a vaccume) and drag in any microscopic lifeforms in the soil -- or if an aquatic variety, in the water.

"Retired" in 2017.
List of online carnivorous plant suppliers

Re: U.calycifida, how does it "eat"?#86706

By moof -  Thu Feb 03, 2011 5:31 pm
Posts:  1036
Joined:  Sun Oct 18, 2009 7:54 am

- Thu Feb 03, 2011 5:31 pm #86706

And here's an uprooted U.calycifida:

As Grey said, the traps are vacuum-type ones.

Peter

Re: U.calycifida, how does it "eat"?#86719

By GardenNub -  Thu Feb 03, 2011 6:43 pm
Posts:  176
Joined:  Sat Jan 29, 2011 1:01 am

- Thu Feb 03, 2011 6:43 pm #86719

yea thats the picture from the post i was referring to! Im gonna go youtube it right now. So how do you feed a plant like that?

Re: U.calycifida, how does it "eat"?#86749

By jht-union -  Thu Feb 03, 2011 10:09 pm
Posts:  3205
Joined:  Tue Apr 13, 2010 11:43 pm

- Thu Feb 03, 2011 10:09 pm #86749

Good question, how do you feed it then, this plants most be really strong then, because of the water being heavier, and the soil, they must have lots of energy in order to eat insects then.
i guess?

Growlist: http://www.flytrapcare.com/phpBB3/jht-u ... ?hilit=jht union's growlist

Looking for these species: http://www.flytrapcare.com/phpBB3/post97520.html

Re: U.calycifida, how does it "eat"?#86826

By Grey -  Fri Feb 04, 2011 10:09 am
Posts:  3255
Joined:  Mon Jul 26, 2010 3:48 pm

- Fri Feb 04, 2011 10:09 am #86826

I'm not sure as though you can feed terrestrial varieties unless you purposfully introduce bugs into the soil.. and even then there are no guarentees.

"Retired" in 2017.
List of online carnivorous plant suppliers

Re: U.calycifida, how does it "eat"?#86892

By moof -  Fri Feb 04, 2011 10:41 pm
Posts:  1036
Joined:  Sun Oct 18, 2009 7:54 am

- Fri Feb 04, 2011 10:41 pm #86892

There's no need for that, but some fertilise them. Ocasionally they'll catch springtails, lots of them in my pots.

Peter

FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums