Utricularia minor
Lesser bladderwort
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Family: Lentibulariaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Utricularia minor (Lesser bladderwort) is a native California herb in the Lentibulariaceae family, recognized by smallest flowers and overall size diagnostic.
Lesser bladderwort is a native perennial found in the high Sierra Nevada, Modoc Plateau, and California Ranges in shallow, acidic waters at elevations of 800 to 2,900 meters. Flowering from June to September, this aquatic plant produces delicate flowers with a distinctive lower lip more than twice the size of the upper lip. Growing as a rooted or floating aquatic with slender stems, it develops winter buds and forms complex underwater structures with numerous bladders and thread-like leaf segments. Its leaves are intricately divided into 3 parts at the base, with 7 to 22 ultimate segments that are thread-like to flattened. In shallow waters, the plant creates a delicate underwater ecosystem with its unique bladder-bearing stems and finely dissected foliage.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; smallest flowers and overall size diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Shallow (generally < 30 cm) acidic waters
Elevation: 800-2900 m
California counties: Fresno, Plumas, El Dorado, Butte, Nevada, Tulare, Tehama, Lassen, Shasta, Mariposa, Tuolumne, Modoc, Siskiyou, Placer, Mono
Outside California: Alaska, northern United States, Canada, circumboreal
Bloom period
Utricularia minor blooms Jun-Sep.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2
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 minor native to California?
Yes. Utricularia minor is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Utricularia minor bloom?
Utricularia minor blooms Jun-Sep.
Where in California does Utricularia minor grow?
Utricularia minor occurs in Fresno, Plumas, El Dorado, Butte, Nevada, Tulare, Tehama, Lassen and other counties, at elevations of 800-2900 m.
What plant family does Utricularia minor belong to?
Utricularia minor is in the Lentibulariaceae family, genus Utricularia.
Is Utricularia minor rare or endangered?
Utricularia minor carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, 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.