Utricularias

Utricularias, commonly known as bladderworts, are a genus of carnivorous plants in the family Lentibulariaceae. The genus comprises more than 200 described species, forming a diverse group that ranges from tiny aquatic plants to delicate terrestrial forms. They are found on every continent except Antarctica, in sheltered freshwater habitats, wetlands, damp soils, and, in tropical regions, epiphytic habitats in trees.

Utricularias are characterized by small hollow bladders, or utricles, that serve as suction traps. Bladders maintain a partial vacuum; their doors are closed and guarded by trigger hairs. When a hair is touched, the door opens inward, and water and any small prey are sucked in at high speed, after which the door closes. Digestive enzymes inside the bladder absorb nutrients from captured prey. Prey includes microcrustaceans, rotifers, nematodes, and other tiny aquatic organisms; terrestrial forms capture soil-borne microbes.

Many bladderworts live in nutrient-poor environments, where carnivory provides essential minerals such as nitrogen and phosphorus. Some species form free-floating aquatic mats, others have submerged rooted leaves, and a few are epiphytic, growing on rainforest trees. They play a role in aquatic and bog ecosystems by controlling microfauna and contributing to nutrient cycling.

Taxonomically, Utricularia is one of three genera in Lentibulariaceae, alongside Pinguicula and Genlisea. Most species reproduce sexually through small flowers on tall inflorescences, producing seeds, while many can propagate vegetatively. In cultivation, bladderworts require consistently moist or aquatic conditions, bright light, and substantial humidity; their care is best suited to environments that mimic their native wet, nutrient-poor habitats.