Utricularia gibba
Gibbous bladderwort
(c) Michelle W. （鍾偉瑋）, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michelle W. （鍾偉瑋） · licence
Family: Lentibulariaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Utricularia gibba (Gibbous bladderwort) is a native California herb in the Lentibulariaceae family, recognized by no sympatric species.
Gibbous bladderwort is a native perennial found in northern and central California Floristic Province in shallow waters, mud surfaces, and deep water mats at elevations of 10 to 2,300 meters. Flowering from July to September, this aquatic plant produces small flowers with delicate yellow or white corollas 6 to 15 millimeters long. Growing with thread-like stems that form loose, creeping mats in water, it develops intricate forked leaves typically 2 to 15 millimeters long with thread-like ultimate segments. Its unique adaptation includes tiny bladders throughout the stems, which help the plant capture and digest microscopic aquatic organisms. The plant's winter survival strategy involves no specialized winter buds, allowing it to remain active in its aquatic environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; no sympatric species
Habitat and range
Habitat: Shallow water, mud, mat-forming at surface of deep waters or not
Elevation: 10-2300 m
California counties: Butte, Lake, Fresno, Mendocino, Sacramento, Yuba, Tehama, Contra Costa, Tuolumne, Sonoma, San Joaquin, El Dorado
Bloom period
Utricularia gibba blooms Jul-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Pinguicula: Utricularia has yellow flowers and grows aquatic, while Pinguicula has blue-violet flowers on land.; vs Proboscidea: Utricularia has thread-like dissected parts in water, while Proboscidea has large solid leaves on land.; vs Mimulus: Utricularia has finely dissected underwater parts, while Mimulus has normal solid leaves.; vs Limosella: Utricularia has thread-like dissected parts, while Limosella has simple spoon-shaped leaves.; vs Synthyris: Utricularia is aquatic with dissected parts, while Synthyris is terrestrial with simple toothed leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Utricularia gibba native to California?
Yes. Utricularia gibba is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Utricularia gibba bloom?
Utricularia gibba blooms Jul-Sep.
Where in California does Utricularia gibba grow?
Utricularia gibba occurs in Butte, Lake, Fresno, Mendocino, Sacramento, Yuba, Tehama, Contra Costa and other counties, at elevations of 10-2300 m.
What plant family does Utricularia gibba belong to?
Utricularia gibba is in the Lentibulariaceae family, genus Utricularia.
What habitat does Utricularia gibba grow in?
Utricularia gibba grows in Shallow water, mud, mat-forming at surface of deep waters or not.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.