Utricularia intermedia
Flat-leaved bladderwort
(c) Lucian Vazquez, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Lentibulariaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2
Utricularia intermedia (Flat-leaved bladderwort) is a native California herb in the Lentibulariaceae family, recognized by distinctive flattened leaves and dual stem types.
Flat-leaved bladderwort is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native perennial found in the Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, and northern Mountain Provinces in shallow water habitats at elevations of 1,200 to 2,700 meters. Flowering from July to September, this aquatic plant produces delicate flowers with intricate structures. Growing as a rooted aquatic plant with two distinct stem types - some freely floating and green, others white and rooted in mud - it develops distinctive winter buds with bristly characteristics. Its leaves are complex, divided into three parts at the base and further dissected into linear segments less than 20 millimeters long, each with 5 to 12 small bristles. The plant forms unique bladdery structures that help it capture and digest tiny aquatic organisms, making it a fascinating carnivorous species adapted to nutrient-poor water environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; distinctive flattened leaves and dual stem types
Habitat and range
Habitat: Shallow (< 1 m) water
Elevation: 1200-2700 m
California counties: Plumas, Fresno, Butte, Tulare, Modoc, Mariposa, Placer
Outside California: northern United States, Canada, circumboreal
Bloom period
Utricularia intermedia blooms Jul-Sep.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.2
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 intermedia native to California?
Yes. Utricularia intermedia is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Utricularia intermedia bloom?
Utricularia intermedia blooms Jul-Sep.
Where in California does Utricularia intermedia grow?
Utricularia intermedia occurs in Plumas, Fresno, Butte, Tulare, Modoc, Mariposa, Placer, at elevations of 1200-2700 m.
What plant family does Utricularia intermedia belong to?
Utricularia intermedia is in the Lentibulariaceae family, genus Utricularia.
Is Utricularia intermedia rare or endangered?
Utricularia intermedia carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.2, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.