Aldrovanda (Malacca Jhangi)
Habitat and Distribution
Aldrovanda vesiculosa, locally known as Malacca Jhangi in Bengali and Hindi, is a free-floating, rootless aquatic plant. In India, it is found mainly in the salt marshes of the Sunderbans, south of Kolkata. It also grows in freshwater bodies like ponds, tanks, and lakes. Outside India, it occurs in central Europe and Australia.
Morphological Features
- This plant has a slender, wiry stem and lacks roots. Its leaves are arranged in whorls, with slightly winged petioles. Each leaf has two lobes with a notch at the tip. A hinge-like midrib allows the leaf to fold quickly. Along the edges of the leaf are sensitive, inward-curved, tooth-like structures that aid in prey capture.
Insect-Trapping Mechanism
- The leaf midrib contains trigger hairs that respond to touch. When an insect touches these hairs, the two lobes of the leaf snap shut within seconds, trapping the insect. Digestive enzymes are secreted by glands on the leaf surface to break down the prey. The leaf remains closed until digestion and absorption are complete.