Swollen Bladderwort is a large aquatic carnivorous plant native to the U.S.A. and found in the coastal plain area of NC. The distinctive radial floats keep the plant suspended in the water as it has no roots. Each spoke of the float is branched and has bladders in and among the branches. The traps are located in the axils of the branches to catch minute aquatic creatures including mosquitoes. There is argument as to whether it has true leaves or not but forms filamentous branches that look like a dense hair-like mat that is often submerged just under the water. It prefers dark, boggy waters rich in tannins and does best in full sun. Its large bright yellow flowers reach above the water from May to November. In fall it forms turions (winter buds), which settle to the bottom and help it survive winters. In warmer climates, it will continue to grow through the winter. It can become weedy and invasive in water ways and has escaped its natural habitat. Habitat: Ponds, lakes, and ditches More information on Utricularia .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.