Lesser bladderwort (Utricularia minor, Sp. Pl.: 18 (1753))

Family: Lentibulariaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 18 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Utricularia

Vegetable: False

Observations: Subarctic to Temp. Northern Hemisphere, New Guinea

Description

The Lesser Bladderwort, scientifically known as Utricularia minor, is a fascinating and unique species within the Lentibulariaceae family. First described and named by the esteemed botanist Carl Linnaeus in his seminal work “Species Plantarum” published in 1753, this diminutive aquatic plant has captured the interest of both botanists and naturalists alike.

Utricularia minor is a small, delicate carnivorous plant that thrives in a variety of aquatic environments across the subarctic to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, and surprisingly, it can also be found as far afield as New Guinea. This wide distribution indicates the plant’s remarkable adaptability to different climates and water conditions.

Residing primarily in nutrient-poor waters such as shallow ponds, bogs, and marshes, the Lesser Bladderwort compensates for the lack of soil nutrients by capturing small aquatic prey. The plant is equipped with tiny bladder-like structures called utricles, which are essentially highly specialized suction traps. These utricles create a vacuum to draw in and trap minute aquatic organisms such as protozoans and small invertebrates, thus providing the plant with essential nutrients like nitrogen.

The bladderwort’s foliage is finely divided and feather-like, allowing it to float effortlessly in the water column. Its stems are slender and often bear small, yellow flowers, each rising slightly above the water surface. These flowers are distinctive, with a two-lipped corolla, displaying the plant’s adaptation to attracting pollinators in its aquatic habitat.

Given its small size and delicate structure, Utricularia minor can be easily overlooked in its natural habitat. However, its role in the ecosystem is significant—helping to control mosquito populations and serving as an interesting subject of study for those interested in plant physiology and carnivory mechanisms.

In conclusion, the Lesser Bladderwort stands out as a remarkable example of plant adaptation and survival in varied and sometimes challenging environments. Its carnivorous nature and widespread geographic presence underscore its evolutionary success and ecological importance.

Common Names

Deu: kleiner wasserschlauch
Eng: lesser bladderwort, small bladderwort
Dan: liden blærerod
Nld: klein blaasjeskruid
Fra: petite utriculaire, utriculaire mineure
Swe: dvärgbläddra, dvärgblåsört
Sme: uhcačáhcebađvi
Cym: chwysigenddail bach, chwysigenddail lleiaf, chwysigenwraidd lleiaf, swigenddail lleiaf
En: Lesser bladderwort, Small Bladderwort
Be: Плывунец малы
Bg: Дребна мехурка
Zh: 小狸藻, 细叶狸藻
Cs: Bublinatka menší
Da: Liden Blærerod
Nl: Klein Blaasjeskruid
Et: Väike vesihernes
Fi: Pikkuvesiherne
Fr: Petite Utriculaire, Utriculaire Mineure
De: Kleiner Wasserschlauch
Hu: Kis rence
It: Erba-vescica minore
Se: Uhcačáhcebađvi
Fa: آتریکالاریا کوچک
Pl: Pływacz drobny
Sr: Мала мешинка
Sv: Dvärgbläddra, Dvärgblåsört
Zh-tw: 小狸藻
Zh-hant: 細葉狸藻
Uk: Пухирник малий
Cy: Chwysigenddail bach, Chwysigenddail Lleiaf, Chwysigenwraidd Lleiaf, Swigenddail Lleiaf

Synonyms

• Utricularia minor var. multispinosa (Miki)
• Utricularia minor f. terrestris (Glück)
• Lentibularia minor ((L.) Raf.)
• Utricularia minor var. platyloba (J.Meister)
• Utricularia minor f. platyloba ((J.Meister) Glück)
• Utricularia multispinosa ((Miki) Miki)
• Utricularia minor f. stricta (Komiya)
• Utricularia minor f. natans (Komiya)
• Utricularia rogersiana (Lace)
• Utricularia nepalensis (Kitam.)

Distribution

• Afghanistan (native)
• Alaska (native)
• Albania (native)
• Alberta (native)
• Aleutian Is. (native)
• Altay (native)
• Amur (native)
• Arizona (native)
• Austria (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Belgium (native)
• British Columbia (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Buryatiya (native)
• California (native)
• Central European Rus (native)
• China North-Central (native)
• China South-Central (native)
• Chita (native)
• Colorado (native)
• Connecticut (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• Denmark (native)
• East European Russia (native)
• East Himalaya (native)
• Finland (native)
• France (native)
• Germany (native)
• Great Britain (native)
• Greece (native)
• Greenland (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Iceland (native)
• Idaho (native)
• Illinois (native)
• Indiana (native)
• Inner Mongolia (native)
• Iowa (native)
• Iran (native)
• Ireland (native)
• Irkutsk (native)
• Italy (native)
• Japan (native)
• Kamchatka (native)
• Khabarovsk (native)
• Kirgizstan (native)
• Korea (native)
• Krasnoyarsk (native)
• Kuril Is. (native)
• Labrador (native)
• Magadan (native)
• Maine (native)
• Manchuria (native)
• Manitoba (native)
• Masachusettes (native)
• Michigan (native)
• Minnesota (native)
• Missouri (native)
• Mongolia (native)
• Montana (native)
• Morocco (native)
• Myanmar (native)
• Nebraska (native)
• Nepal (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• Nevada (native)
• New Brunswick (native)
• New Guinea (native)
• New Hampshire (native)
• New Jersey (native)
• New York (native)
• Newfoundland (native)
• North Carolina (native)
• North Dakota (native)
• North European Russi (native)
• Northwest European R (native)
• Northwest Territorie (native)
• Norway (native)
• Nova Scotia (native)
• Nunavut (native)
• Ohio (native)
• Ontario (native)
• Oregon (native)
• Pennsylvania (native)
• Poland (native)
• Primorye (native)
• Prince Edward I. (native)
• Québec (native)
• Rhode I. (native)
• Romania (native)
• Saskatchewan (native)
• South Dakota (native)
• South European Russi (native)
• Spain (native)
• Sweden (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Tadzhikistan (native)
• Tibet (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Tuva (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Utah (native)
• Uzbekistan (native)
• Vermont (native)
• Washington (native)
• West Himalaya (native)
• West Siberia (native)
• Wisconsin (native)
• Wyoming (native)
• Xinjiang (native)
• Yakutskiya (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Yukon (native)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc)

Taken Jun 28, 2012 by EOL − Barry Rice (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Jun 28, 2009 by Tela Botanica − Herve BELLAT (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 1, 2012 by EOL − Barry Rice (cc-by-nc-sa)

Leaf

Taken Apr 22, 2021 by Paul FRANCK (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 16, 2022 by Agnieszka Bruska (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 13, 2019 by Maria Grazia Corradi (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 1, 2021 by David Borrie (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 5, 2019 by thwingert (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Jun 28, 2012 by EOL − Barry Rice (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Aug 8, 2018 by Tela Botanica − Serge Lavayssière (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 2, 2019 by Tela Botanica − Marie-Françoise Illand (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 2, 2019 by Tela Botanica − Marie-Françoise Illand (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 28, 2012 by EOL − Barry Rice (cc-by-nc-sa)

Other

Taken Jul 15, 2009 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Sep 15, 2007 by Photoflora – Yann QUELEN (©)

Taken Aug 15, 2004 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Taken Jan 1, 1970 by Photoflora – L’Abbé COSTE (©)

Taken Jul 15, 2009 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Fruit

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc)

Taken Sep 1, 2012 by EOL − Barry Rice (cc-by-nc-sa)

Bark

Taken Jul 15, 2009 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Jul 15, 2009 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Jun 3, 2009 by EOL − Barry Rice (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Sep 1, 2012 by EOL − Barry Rice (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Jun 3, 2009 by EOL − Barry Rice (cc-by-nc-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3172414)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:526922-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Utricularia minor L.)

Specifications

Growth form: Stoloniferous

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth rate: Rapid

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.5

Ph minimum: 6.5

Light: 8

Atmospheric humidity: 9

Bloom months: [‘jun’, ‘jul’, ‘aug’, ‘sep’]

Soil nutriments: 2