Utricularia gibba aka Conespur Bladderpod

Utricularia gibba lives in water and catches tiny animals. People call it floating bladderwort or humped bladderwort. It is part of the bladderwort family, Lentibulariaceae. Its native range spans the tropics and subtropics of the Americas and Old World. It is native to North Carolina, too. Records place it on all continents but Antarctica. It lives for years in ponds, lakes, bogs, marshes, and ditches.

The plant spreads through fine stems that branch, called stolons. These cross each other and can form dense mats. Each stolon grows about 0.67–0.83 feet [0.20–0.25 metres] long. The green stems may float free or grow under water. They can also creep across the bottom in shallow water. Some plants cling to what lies beneath, without a firm hold. The green, leaf-like parts have no hairs and grow in opposite pairs. They are thin and forked, about 0.03 feet [0.01 metres] long. Small traps sit among these parts. They catch tiny animals that live in the water.

Small yellow flowers rise above the water in clusters called racemes. They have two lips and may show reddish-brown veins. A raised hump marks the middle of the lower lip. Each flower is less than 0.08 feet [0.025 metres] across. The blooms add colour above the fine green growth. North Carolina State lists blooms from May through November. Flowers may grow at other times in the growing season. Plants that cling to the bottom tend to bloom more. Round fruits, called capsules, form from July through October.

This plant grows best in shallow water with little flow. It suits full sun but also accepts part sun. Its water needs make it a choice for water gardens. North Carolina State lists it for USDA zones 4–10. That source also notes that it can cope with heat. It can grow in a pond or bog garden. Tanks and pots used as water gardens are other options. Its traps stay hidden and are hard to watch. Some other plants that catch prey lack this drawback.

It has value in native plant gardens and water gardens for pollinators. Waterfowl eat it. Frogs and other small animals find shelter in it. Its mats can spread and become weedy. The plant needs a great deal of care. North Carolina State reports no serious pest or disease problems. The supplied sources do not say if people can eat it. They also give no facts on whether it is toxic.