Bladderwort

Bladderwort Overview

Utricularia is a genus containing around unusual 252 species in the carnivorous bladderwort family, Lentibulariaceae. These plants have a cosmopolitan distribution and they are therefore found across most of the world, on every continent, excluding Antarctica. They may be aquatic, terrestrial or epiphytic and are all insectivorous annual or perennial species. The aquatic species are found in freshwater environments and the terrestrial species enjoy wet soil. They produce kidney-shaped foliage with specialised bladder-like structures for trapping live insect prey. These bladder traps work through sophisticated trapping mechanisms, aquatic species employ active traps like the famous Venus Flytrap, where insects trigger hair structures, causing prey to be sucked into the bladder, which fills with water. These traps are considered one of the most sophisticated structures in the plant kingdom. Attractive, colourful flowers are produced solitarily or arranged on raceme structures, they are 2-lipped and resemble those of Snapdragons. They are popular with carnivorous plant enthusiasts.

How to propagate Bladderwort

Seed

Division

Special features of Bladderwort

Attractive flowers

Wet sites

Other uses of Bladderwort

Some species are suitable only for tropical aquariums; those grown in outdoor pools require full sun (aquatic).