Calpidisca

  • Authority

    Barnhart, John H. 1916. Segregation of genera in Lentibulariaceae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 6: 39-64. f. 1-25.

  • Family

    Lentibulariaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Calpidisca

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Herbae scaposae terrestres, ramulis brevibus radiciformibus et stolonibus tenerrimis foliatis a basi scapi radiantibus, radicibus veris nullis. Folia difformia, alia erecta et viridia, alia subterranea et radiciformia, ascidiifera. Ascidia urceolata, margine plus minus bilabiato et fimbriato. Scapus interdum ramosus, squamatus, bracteatus, I-multiflorus; squamae basifixae; bracteae basifixae; bracteolae consimiles, saepe ad bracteam adnatae, itaque bracteam tripartitam vel trifidam vel divergente tridentatum formantes. Calyx 2-partitus; lobi concavi, ad capsulam non adpressi. Corolla cyanica, profunde 2-labiata, marcescens et persistens; labium superius exunguiculatum, inferius cum limbo a margine calcaris oris abrupte reflexo; palatum, margine crasso calcaris oris excepto, nullum; calcar cum limbo parallelum vel breve et saccatum. Antherae bilobatae. Capsula globosa, stylo persistente rostrata.

  • Discussion

    Species typica, Calpidisca capensis comb. nov. (Utricularia capensis Spr.)

    There are about 60 species of this genus, mostly confined to tropical regions and extratropical South Africa. In many of the species the leaves and bladders are evanescent, disappearing before the flowers are developed; indeed, in some of the species the leaves and bladders are quite unknown. In all species in which the bladders are known, they are distinctly urceolate, and the name Calpidisca is derived from two Greek words meaning urn and disc. A considerable proportion of the described species, especially the American ones, have been collected only once or twice, and the group needs much critical study. This is particularly true of several Brazilian species with hippocrepiform connectives, otherwise more or less intermediate between Calpidisca and Orchyllium, and doubtless eventually deserving generic segregation.

    The type species and several related ones were beautifully figured in the 28th volume of "Hooker's Icones plantarum" (pi. 2793-2797); the illustration presented herewith is of a Mexican species, Calpidisca denticulata comb. nov. (Utricularia denticulata Benj.).