Native Plants
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Utricularia macrorhiza
Utricularia macrorhiza Leconte
Common Bladderwort
Lentibulariaceae (Bladderwort Family)
Synonym(s): Utricularia vulgaris, Utricularia vulgaris ssp. macrorhiza, Utricularia vulgaris var. americana
USDA Symbol: UTMA
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N), SPM (N)
A small floating plant with 6-20 bilaterally symmetrical, yellow flowers in each rather stout, erect raceme.
This species also occurs in Eurasia. Of possibly five Utricularia species in the West, several difficult to distinguish, this has the largest flowers. Another species easy to identify is Mountain Bladderwort (U. intermedia), with bladders on special branches distinct from the leaves. In all species of Utricularia the bladders are elaborate traps. When a small organism brushes hairs near a bladder pore, the pore's tiny door opens inward and water rushes inside, carrying the organism with it. The door quickly closes, the trapping process taking 1/460 second. Enzymes digest the victim. Comparatively large organisms, such as mosquito larvae, may be caught in the door; if the door is repeatedly triggered, they are then digested little by little.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Red , YellowBloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep
Distribution
USA: AK , AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WYCanada: AB , BC , MB , NB , NL , NS , NT , PE , QC , SK , YT
Native Distribution: Throughout much of North America.
Native Habitat: Ponds and slow-moving water.
Growing Conditions
Light Requirement: SunSoil Moisture: Wet
Aquatic: yes
Benefit
Warning: This plant's tiny stinging hairs contain an acid that can cause a severe, burning skin irritation.Conspicuous Flowers: yes
National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | OBL | OBL | OBL | OBL | OBL | OBL | OBL | OBL |
Web Reference
Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) CalfloraWebref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Utricularia macrorhiza in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Utricularia macrorhiza in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Utricularia macrorhiza
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-04-10Research By: TWC Staff