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| NAS - Nonindigenous Aquatic Species |
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Common Name: swollen bladderwort
Taxonomy: available through 
Identification: Submersed free-floating plant characterised by small bladders attached to stems that branch in a leaflike fashion. Yellow flowers are carried on tall stalks (scapes) held above the water by a whorl of inflated branches, resembling spokes of a wheel (Burks 1996; Rossbach 1939). Utricularia species are carnivorous in that the bladders trap and digest tiny animals, especially small crustaceans (Godfrey and Wooten 1981). Uticularia is oftentimes confused with, yet morphologically distinct from, the smaller and more widespread U. radiata Small (U. inflata var. minor Chapman) (Reinert and Godfrey 1962).
Native Range:
The Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains, extending from southern New Jersey to Florida and westward to eastern Texas and southeastern Oklahoma (Godfrey and Wooten 1981; Nelson and Couch 1985).
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Interactive maps: Continental US, Alaska, Hawaii, Caribbean
Nonindigenous Occurrences:
Initially detected from the western United States in 1980 from Horseshoe Lake, Kitsap County, in the Puget Sound region of Washington (Ceska and Ceska 1986). Now reported in 20 lakes and ponds within Kitsap, Cowlitz, Thurston and Mason Counties.
Discoveries in the last 15 years have added to its northern range. These have been documented in New York's Adirondack Park (Oles and Flint 2007), southeastern New York (Miller and Mitchell 1995), and in eastern Massachusetts (Sorrie 1992) . In Rhode Island, a new population was noted in 2006 reaching nuisance levels by 2007. While the New York station is regarded as an extension of range, introduction, either by man or waterfowl is considered a possible reason for its disjunct appearance in Massachusetts. Plants in Massachusetts are reported as especially large, with scapes reaching up to 23 cm (Sorrie 1992).
Means of Introduction: Located far from its natural range, there is little chance that Utricularia was carried to western Washington by migrating waterfowl. More than likely it was liberated intentionally, either as an ornamental or by someone anticipating mosquito control. Waterfowl are suspected to be spreading the plant from lake to lake within the local region (K. Hamel pers. comm. 1998). Plants reproduce vegetatively and by seed.
Status:
At a pioneering stage in western Washington where reports are increasing and its proliferation is considered a nuisance (WSDE 1998). Considered a potential threat in Adirondack Park where its been found in a few waterbodies (Oles and Flint 2007).
Impact of Introduction:
Remarks: Floating Utricularia is known to grow abundantly in its native range, especially in shallow waters, following drought or drawdown. Its competitiveness in the southern US is diminished by the fact that it's major growth period occurs in the late winter-early spring, and it is inactive during the the major summer growing season (Sanders and Mangrum 1973). This aspect could make U. inflata more competitive in the relatively cooler growing season of the Pacific Northwest.
References
Ceska, A. and O. Ceska. 1986. Noteworthy collections - Washington.Utricularia Walt. (Lenticulariaceae). Madrono 33(1):80.
Godfrey, R.K. and J.W. Wooten. 1981. Aquatic and Wetland Plants of the Southeastern United States: Dicotyledons. The University of Georgia Press, Athens, GA.
Hamel, K. Washington Department of Ecology, Olympia, WA. Personal communication to C. Jacono, June 1998.
Miller, N.G. and R.S. Mitchell. 1995. Tracking the mosses and vascular plants of New York (1836-1994). In: Our Living Resources: A Report to the Nation on the Distribution, Abundance, and Health of U.S. Plants, Animals, and Ecosystems, E.T. Laroe, C.E. Farris, et al. (eds.) U.S.Dept. Interior, National Biological Service, Washington, DC.
Mitchell, Richard S., Terryanne E. Maenza-Gmelch, and J. G. Barbour. 1994. Utricularia Walt. (Lentibulariaceae) new to New York State. Bull. Torrey Botanical Club 121(3): 295-297.
Nelson, E.N. and R.W. Couch. 1985. Aquatic Plants of Oklahoma I: Submersed, Floating-leaved, and Selected Emergent Macrophytes. Oral Roberts Unversity, Tulsa, OK.
Oles, H. and S. Flint 2007. Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program - 2007 Annual Report. 2007:25 p.http://www.adkinvasives.com/documents/APIPP2007AnnualReport.pdf (accessed 12 November 2008)
Parsons, J.P. 1996. Aquatic Plant Technical Assistance Program: 1995 Activity Report. Washington State Department of Ecology, Environmental Investigations and Laboratory Services Program, Olympia, WA.
Reinert, G.W. and R.K. Godfrey. 1962. Reappraisal of Utricularia and U. radiata (Lentibulariaceae). American Journal of Botany 49(3):213-220.
Rossbach, G.B. 1939. Aquatic Utricularias. Rhodora 41(484):113-127.
Sanders, D.R. and M.O. Mangrum. 1973. Competition between Cabomba and Anacharis in Black Lake, Louisiana. Proc. Southern Weed Science Society 26:361-66.
Sorrie, B.A. 1992.Utricularia Walter (Lentibulariaceae) in Massachusetts. Rhodora 94(880):391-392.
Washington State Department of Ecology, Water Quality Program. 1998. Aquatic Plants and Lakes Issues. http://www.wa.gov/ecology/wq/plants/bladder.html
Other Resources: Originally formatted NAS fact sheet (July 1998)
Author: V. Howard Morgan
Revision Date: 12/5/2008 Citation for this information:
V. Howard Morgan. 2009. Utricularia inflata. USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL.
<http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.asp?speciesID=238> Revision Date: 12/5/2008
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