Utricularia vulgaris - Bladderwort

Family:	Lentibulariaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Width:	1
Synonyms:
Range:	Europe, including Britain, from Norway south and east to N. Africa, temperate Asia.

Utricularia vulgaris (Bladderwort) is a Perennial and a width of 1m . It has a hardness rating of 5.
Bladderwort will flower in January to February. The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Bees

Soil Information

Bladderwort will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
Bladderwort prefers soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Bladderwort should not be planted in shady areas.

Ponds, lakes and ditches, usually in relatively deep water[17].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Is a pond plant

Cultivation Details

A free-floating water plant[188], it requires acid conditions[200] and is most commonly found in deep water[17]. This species can become a noxious weed in rice paddies[274]. An insectivores plant[200]. The plant possesses bladders with trap doors. Most of the water is pumped out of the bladder, resulting in a lower pressure inside the bladder than outside. When a tiny (usually microscopic) creature touches one of the trigger hairs on the door, the door opens allowing water to rush in and carry the animal with it - the process taking just a small fraction of a second. The trap door closes and the animal is digested by the plant[274]. An aggregate species[17].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 1/5
Root[179]. No more details are given, but the root can be up to 1 metre long though it is rather thin. Another report says that this is a floating aquatic plant with submerged root-like capillary branches[7]. Leaves[179]. No more details are given. The juice of the plant is drunk for its rich mineral content[7].

• Drink - not including plant saps, tea or coffee substitutes.
• Leaves -
• Root - includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 1/5
The whole plant is mildly astringent, diuretic and vulnerary[7].It is used as a poultice on wounds[7].

• Diuretic - Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.
• Vulnerary - Promotes the healing of wounds.

Propagation

Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed as soon as it is ripe on the surface of a pot of acid compost that is immersed in water. Division should be possible in the growing season[188].

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

None known

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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