[The Bladderwort Family in Mt. Adams Country]

Bladderwort, Common Bladderwort, Greater Bladderwort:

Utricularia vulgaris ssp. macrorhiza

Synonym: Utricularia macrorhiza, Utricularia vulgaris var. americana

Air bladders on the stems of Common Bladderwort, Greater Bladderwort: Utricularia vulgaris ssp. macrorhiza (Synonym: Utricularia macrorhiza) - Common Bladderwort, Greater Bladderwort: Utricularia vulgaris ssp. macrorhiza (Synonym: Utricularia macrorhiza)

Common bladderwort as seen in an irrigation canal along the southern loop of the Willard Springs Trail at Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge........August 26, 2018. The photo at right shows the branched leaves, each bearing numerous blackened bladders which help trap aquatic insects and thus provide the plant with protein in an environment which is often nitrogen poor.

Flowers of Common Bladderwort, Greater Bladderwort: Utricularia vulgaris ssp. macrorhiza (Synonym: Utricularia macrorhiza)

The photo above shows a close-up frontal view of the flowers of common bladderwort: Utricularia vulgaris as seen in an irrigation canal along Kreps Lane, Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge......................June 17, 2006. The flowers of this geneus are strongly bilabiate or two-lipped. Note the well-developed palate with reddish streaks at the base of the lower lip.

Flowers of Common Bladderwort, Greater Bladderwort: Utricularia vulgaris ssp. macrorhiza (Synonym: Utricularia macrorhiza)

The photo above shows a close-up frontal view of the flowers of common bladderwort: Utricularia vulgaris as seen in an irrigation canal along Kreps Lane, Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge..........June 17, 2006. Note the long lower spur extending from the base of the corolla tube.

Frontal view of a flower of Common Bladderwort, Greater Bladderwort: Utricularia vulgaris ssp. macrorhiza (Synonym: Utricularia macrorhiza) - Flower of Common Bladderwort, Greater Bladderwort: Utricularia vulgaris ssp. macrorhiza (Synonym: Utricularia macrorhiza)

The photos above show close-ups of the individual flowers of common bladderwort as seen in an irrigation canal along the southern loop of the Willard Springs Trail at Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge.........July 28, 2006.

Inflorescence of Common Bladderwort, Greater Bladderwort: Utricularia vulgaris ssp. macrorhiza (Synonym: Utricularia macrorhiza)

The photo above shows the inflorescence of common bladderwort as seen in an irrigation canal along the southern loop of the Willard Springs Trail at Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge...................July 2, 2006.

Underwater leaf with bladders of Common Bladderwort, Greater Bladderwort: Utricularia vulgaris ssp. macrorhiza (Synonym: Utricularia macrorhiza)

The photo above shows a close-up of the branched leaves, each bearing numerous blackened bladders which help trap aquatic insects and thus provide the plant with protein in an environment which is often nitrogen poor. Photographed along the Willard Springs Trail in Conboy Lake NWR..........August 17, 2007.

Common Bladderwort, Greater Bladderwort: Utricularia vulgaris ssp. macrorhiza (Synonym: Utricularia macrorhiza)

The photo above shows common bladderwort as seen in an irrigation canal along the southern loop of the Willard Springs Trail at Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge........July 2, 2006.

Sideview of a flower of Common Bladderwort, Greater Bladderwort: Utricularia vulgaris ssp. macrorhiza (Synonym: Utricularia macrorhiza) - Flower of Common Bladderwort, Greater Bladderwort: Utricularia vulgaris ssp. macrorhiza (Synonym: Utricularia macrorhiza)

Common Bladderwort, Greater Bladderwort: Utricularia vulgaris ssp. macrorhiza (Synonym: Utricularia macrorhiza) - Underwater leaf and bladders of Common Bladderwort, Greater Bladderwort: Utricularia vulgaris ssp. macrorhiza (Synonym: Utricularia macrorhiza)

The 4 photos above show various detail views of common bladderwort as seen in the central canal (along Kreps Lane) that runs through Conboy Lake NWR..........July 31, 2008. Click each photo to see a closer view. The flower seen floating in the photo at lower right is from marsh speedwell (Veronica scutellata).


Bladderwort, Common Bladderwort, Greater Bladderwort: Utricularia vulgaris ssp. macrorhiza (Synonyms: Utricularia macrorhiza, Utricularia vulgaris var. americana)

Habitat of common bladderwort as seen in an old irrigation ditch adjacent to the eastern loop of the Willard Springs Trail, Conboy Lake NWR......June 11, 2020.

Underwater leaf and bladders of Common Bladderwort, Greater Bladderwort: Utricularia vulgaris ssp. macrorhiza (Synonym: Utricularia macrorhiza) - Flowers of Common Bladderwort, Greater Bladderwort: Utricularia vulgaris ssp. macrorhiza (Synonym: Utricularia macrorhiza)

Close-up images of the underwater leaf with bladders and an inflorescence of common bladderwort as seen in the canal just north of the Conboy Lake Wildlife Refuge headquarters..........May 24, 2016.

Common Bladderwort, Greater Bladderwort: Utricularia vulgaris ssp. macrorhiza (Synonym: Utricularia macrorhiza)

The photo above shows several branches of the underwater stems with the bladders borne on the leaves. The aerial stem which ends in 2 yellowish flowers is shown above the floating leaves. Photographed along the Willard Springs Trail in Conboy Lake NWR.........August 17, 2007.

Paul Slichter E-mail