How to identify Bladderwort (Utricularia gibba)
Bladderwort, also known as Creeping bladderwort, Floating bladderwort
Bladderwort exhibits a distinctive growth pattern with a network of fine, branching stolons, each extending approximately 8-10 inches (20-25 cm) in length. This network often forms expansive, crisscrossing mats that either float on the water’s surface or maintain a loose connection to shallow substrates. Integrated within its nearly leafless architecture are small traps, ingeniously evolved to capture minute aquatic organisms. The plant is an admirable, specialized carnivore, easily identified by its unique, filamentous stolonal system and micro-trap strategy.
Lifespan: Perennial, Annual
Plant Type: Herb
Leaf Type: Deciduous
Filamentous stolonal system
Yellow flowers with red center
Spherical brown fruit, papery texture
Thread-like leaves with bladders
Slender green stem, minimal branching
The leaves of bladderwort are thin, forked, and resemble delicate leaf-like structures. They typically measure around 3/8 inch (3-10 mm) long and are borne on a tangled mass of stems. Their texture is smooth and their appearance is thread-like, making them distinctive in underwater environments. Unique to bladderwort, these leaves feature modified organs called bladders, which facilitate the trapping of prey through a triggered suction process. The overall shape and structure aid significantly in identification.
Bladderwort flowers are bright yellow with reddish tints in the center and are up to 0.4 inches (1 cm) wide. They are arranged in clusters of two or more on a flower scape that is 2-3 inches (5-8 cm) long. The flowers have two lips, with the lower lip featuring a humped area in the center. Additionally, a small, rod-like spur extends upward from beneath the petals. These flowers bloom from May to November.
The stem of bladderwort is slender and can grow up to 10 inches (25 cm) long, showing a versatile nature by being either free-floating, submerged, or creeping along the substrate. It is typically thin with a delicate, flexible texture, allowing for easy mat formation. The color is generally green to greenish-brown, and the stem exhibits minimal branching, making it identifiable by its ability to form dense mats in aquatic environments.
The fruit of bladderwort is a spherical capsule, evident from July through October. It is notably lightweight and transitions to a brownish tint upon maturity. The capsule splits open at maturity to release numerous tiny seeds that are paramount for its propagation. Each fruit measures approximately 0.2 inches (5 mm) in diameter. The texture is initially smooth but dries out and becomes more papery over time. This distinctive fruit is an essential characteristic for the identification of bladderwort.
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Scientific Classification of Bladderwort
