What's Blooming

Bladderwort (Utricularia spp.)

Utricularia is a genus of over 220 species of carnivorous plants, collectively known as bladderwort. These diverse and highly evolved plants thrive in nutrient-poor, marshy fields or bog lakes. The genus name, Utricularia, is derived from the Latin word ‘urtriculus,’ meaning ‘little bag’, referring to the tiny underground sacs-like traps of these plants. It belongs to the bladderwort family, Lentibulariaceae, which also includes two other carnivorous plant genera: Pinguicula – the butterworts, and Genlisea – the corkscrew plants.

Utricularia is a genus of over 220 species of carnivorous plants, collectively known as bladderwort. These diverse and highly evolved plants thrive in nutrient-poor, marshy fields or bog lakes. The genus name, Utricularia, is derived from the Latin word ‘urtriculus,’ meaning ‘little bag’, referring to the tiny underground sacs-like traps of these plants. It belongs to the bladderwort family, Lentibulariaceae, which also includes two other carnivorous plant genera: Pinguicula – the butterworts, and Genlisea – the corkscrew plants.

Native to waterlogged soils and stream banks in southern Africa, Utricularia bisquamata is one of many carnivorous plants species at Gardens by the Bay. Above ground, they have a creeping mat of tiny, blade-like leaves and light purple flowers with a bright yellow upper lip, but the most interesting parts of the plant are below ground. Minute, bladder-shaped traps growing on underground stems are hair-triggered. Once stimulated by movement, trigger hairs cause a trapdoor on the bladder to open, sucking in and trapping passing soil invertebrates, which are then digested and absorbed by the plant.

In recent years, bladderworts and other carnivorous plants have been popular among gardeners and plant lovers due to their attractive flowers and adaptability to indoor cultivation. Come marvel at the bladderworts and other carnivorous plants in the Lost World of Cloud Forest now that both our conservatories are open again!

This article is part of our What's Blooming series.