Common or Greater Bladderwort

Common or Greater Bladderwort

Utricularia vulgaris

Bladderwort Family - Lentibulariaceae

This free-floating herb has no roots. What appear to be roots are really extremely finely divided leaves about 2 to 3 inches long, in this case encased in mud at the edge of a marsh. Among the leaf divisions are a number of small bladders that the plant uses to capture tiny aquatic organisms utilized as food.

The leafless flower stalk rises 2 to 3 inches above the water and bears a small group of bright yellow flowers (0.5 to 0.75 inches long). The snapdragon-like flowers have two lips of about equal length with the lower one having a spur shorter than the lower lip. (Photographed - July)

� Pathology Images Inc. 2000 to 2002