Utricularia graminifolia

Herbs; rhizoids up to 2.5 mm long, c. 0.3 mm thick, numerous, glandular, tapering towards apex, branches up to 2.5 mm long, papillose; stolons up to 10 cm long, profusely branched, glandular. Foliar organs up to 10 x 1.5 mm, linear to strap-shaped, at base of scape and on stolons, 3-nerved, nerves branched further, rounded to obtuse or rarely retuse at apex. Traps 1-3 mm across, subglobose, slightly compressed, subdimorphic, numerous on vegetative organs; those on leaves sessile or subsessile, elsewhere long-stalked; mouth basal; appendages 2, subulate simple, glandular. Racemes up to 30 cm long, 1-1.5 mm thick, erect, rarely branched, 1-9 flowered; scales 1-2 x 0.9-1.2 mm, basifixed, ovate to lanceate, rarely deltoid, 1 or 3 nerved, or nerves altogether absent, acute to acuminate at apex; bracts 1.5-2.5 x 1-1.5 mm, basifixed, ovate to lanceate, 1 or 3 nerved, acute to acuminate at apex, bracteoles 1-2.5 mm long, basifixed, subulate, 1-nerved; sterile bracts and bracteoles rarely seen among fertile ones. Flowers 7-12 mm long; pedicels up to 11 mm long, erect, slightly winged. Calyx-lobes ovate to lanceate; upper lobes 3-6 x 2-3.5 mm, acuminate or rarely caudate at apex; lower 2.5-5.8 x 1.5-3 mm, 2-4 dentate at apex. Corolla blue to violet or pink; upper lip 4-6.5 x 2-3.5 mm, linear-oblong, longitudinally streaked, crested at centre, ciliate along lower margin, truncate, rounded or obtuse at apex; lower lip 4-7 x 3-7 mm, obovate, rarely orbicular, hairy in throat, bigibbous at base, obscurely 3-lobed, rounded or retuse at apex; spur 4.5-7 mm long , curved, conical, acute at apex. Stamens 1.5-2 mm long; filaments strap-shaped; anther thecae distinct. Pistil 1.5-2 mm long; ovary ovoid, compressed; style short; stigma 2-lipped, upper lip semiorbicular, lower truncate and hairy. Capsules 3-4 mm long, ovoid, thickened along dehiscent margin; placenta 1.6-2.5 x 1-1.5 mm, oblongoid or ovoid, compressed; seeds 0.2-0.4 mm across, subglobose to obovoid; hilum terminal, prominent; testa cells reticulate.

According to Janarthanam and Henry (1992) U. purpurascens Graham was validly published on the basis of materials observed in Mahabaleshwar. J. Graham’s catalogue in general did not deal with dried specimens in herbariums. In absence of original materials preserved in any of the herbaria, Janarthanam 82941 (MH) collected from the type locality after a lapse of about 150 years is designated as neotype. U. arcuata proved conspecific to U. purpurascens. It is allied to U. albocoerulea differentiated with character of sickle shaped spur of corolla. U. purpurascens Graham is undoubtedly a distinct species and its inclusion under U.graminifolia Vahl by Taylor in 1989 appears to be erroneous.
Although this species is recognized as distinct in Indian literature, it has been included in U. graminifolia by Taylor and appears as such in IPNI and TROPICOS.
The species is found from south China to India. In China, it has been recorded from Yunnan, Fujian, and Guangdong. In India it is found in the northern parts of Western Ghats from Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa. Janarthanam and Henry (1992) have mentioned Gujarat in the in the distribution based on locality Junnar which is erroneous as Junnar is in Maharashtra. None of the other references record the presence of this species in Gujarat.  All the records are from the top or foothills of Western Ghats.
The species grows on wet rocks, soil covered boulders and grassy slopes (Janarthanam and Henry 1992).  It grows on primary or secondary bare rocky areas in the Western Ghats hills. It is dominant on basalt and lateritic rock outcrops and forms ephemeral flush vegetation. Other common habitats are marshes, swamps and stream sides.
In parts of west Maharashtra, Konkan area and in Goa, the species is used for decoration of Pandal at the time of Ganesh festival. However this is a very minor use and very localised. Hence not influencing the species population to any extent (A. Watve pers. obs. 2010).  

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QUERY :: Utricularia graminifolia AND purpurascens:
Would like to know whether Utricularia purpurascens is treated as a synonym of U. graminifolia, as put at The Plants List.
Shrikant ji’s Flowers of Sahyadri lists both these species separately.
Have been considering Utricularia purpurascens as an endemic of the Western Ghats.
U. graminifolia is found to be distributed widely.

Not all the things on plant list are accurate which is why they have a confidence level for every synonym. These two are very different plants.

ANFEB10 Utricularia sp. for identification : 5 posts by 2 authors. Attachments (4)

Family: Lentibulariaceae
Date: 1st February 2015
Place: Agumbe, Karnataka
Habit: Herb

It appears to be U. graminifolia. However, we need capsule and seed characters to confirm.

Family: Lentibulariaceae
Date: 30th August 2015
Place: Agumbe, Karnataka
Habit: Herb

Thank you again sir.

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