Species

Utricularia gibba

Etymology

Utricularia: a small bladder
gibba: From the Latin gibbus 'humped' or 'hunched', meaning gibbous, i.e. very convex or tumid

Common Name(s)

bladderwort

Authority

Utricularia gibba Lam.

Family

Lentibulariaceae

Brief Description

Sprawling submerged plant often floating just under the waters surface, with finely divided thread-like leaves with tiny round bladders (often black). Usually many small yellow snapdragon-like flowers are held above the water surface in summer and autumn.

Flora Category

Vascular - Exotic

NVS Species Code

UTRGIB

The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites

Distribution

Abundant in Northland, Auckland and northern Waikato.

Habitat

Most freshwater habitats, especially acidic and nutrient rich water.

Features

Leaves are filamentous, up to 1 cm long, usually entire but occasionally branched. Bladders are up to 1.5 mm long and obliquely ovoid, situated on the leaves on short stalks. Small (c. 1 cm across) yellow flowers, with red stripes on the lower lip are commonly produced above the water surface either individually or in groups of up to 5 (8) on stems 3-20 cm long. Cleistogamous flowers are also produced on submerged stems. Capsules green, globose 2.5-3 mm across. Seed ovate, flattened with wing 0.75-1 mm x 0.7 mm.

Similar Taxa

Utricularia australis(rare native species mostly in northern North Island) and U. geminiscapa (introduced species found in Westland). Utricularia gibba has entire or nearly entire leaves, whereas the other Utricularia species have leaves divided many times into filiform segments with larger bladders.

Flowering

December, January, February

Flower Colours

Red / Pink,Yellow

Fruiting

Summer - autumn

Year Naturalised

1980

Origin

Widespread and almost cosmopolitan in tropical and warm temperate countries

Reason for Introduction

Originally known from northwest Auckland, possibly introduced via the aquarium trade. In late 1990's found in Northland and likely to have been introduced from Australia via water fowl. Has rapidly spread over the past decade.

Control Techniques

Not usually controlled in New Zealand, but may be controlled manually, or mechanically.

Life Cycle and Dispersal

Perennial. Reproduces freely by seeds, turions, stem fragments. Forms dense mats. Dispersed by Water movement, dumped aquaria contents, contaminated machinery, eel nets, boats and trailers. Seed spread by water fowl.

Tolerances

Tolerant of clean or nutrient-rich, warm or cold, still or slow-moving water.

Attribution

Factsheet prepared by Paul Champion and Deborah Hofstra (NIWA).

References and further reading

Champion et al (2012). Freshwater Pests of New Zealand.  NIWA publication. http://www.niwa.co.nz/freshwater-and-estuaries/management-tools/identification-guides-and-fact-sheets/freshwater-pest-species.

Salmon, B. (2001). Carnivorous plants of New Zealand. Ecosphere Publications, Auckland. 303 pp.

Webb, C.J.; Sykes, W.R.; Garnock-Jones, P.J. (1988). Flora of New Zealand Volume 4: Naturalised pteridophytes, gymnosperms, dicotyledons. Botany Division, DSIR, Christchurch. 1365 pp.

This page last updated on 21 Aug 2013