The Carnivorous Plant FAQ Field Trip Report -

Massachusetts and Vermont in 2006

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Turion:
Here is a much closer view of a leafy shoot, showing a turion produced in anticipation of the winter. Pretty neat, huh? This is the bud in which the plant will survive the cold, frozen Massachusetts winter. The technical nature of the leaves in this photograph (i.e., leaf spines, terminal leaflet shape) will satisfy those who would like proof these plants are not Utricularia ochroleuca or Utricularia minor.

By the way, the turion consists of countless densely packed, reduced leaves. All the leaves on Utricularia intermedia have tiny spines (called setulae) on their margins. Although the turion leaves are reduced in size, the setulae are not. That is why the bud looks fuzzy; its exterior is covered by a mass of tiny spines. Presumably this helps protect the turion from being eaten.

Here is another view of turions to satisfy those who never tire of looking at them. Count me in that group.

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Revised: February 2008
©Barry Rice, 2005