Greater Bladderwort

Greater Bladderwort, extraordinary insectivorous aquatic plant, has numerous thread-like leaves that float in the water. Minute sacs are attached to these, each with a microscopic “trap-door” operated by a hair-like trigger. Tiny crustacea and other pondlife that touch the trigger hairs are inadvertently sucked into the sacs as the “trap-doors” open, where they are digested by the plant. The two-lipped flowers of Greater Bladderwort are bright yellow, with red markings, and are borne on long stalks held above the water surface. The plant may exist for many years without flowering.

LEAVES : Mass of threads.

PLANT HEIGHT : Flowerstalk 10cm.

FLOWER SIZE : 1.2–1.8cm wide.

FRUIT : Rounded capsule.

FLOWERING TIME : July–August.

SIMILAR SPECIES : Lesser Bladderwort , which has much smaller flowers. There are other Utricularia species that may only be identified by microscopic examination.