Utricularia subulata
Zigzag bladderwort
(c) Yoannis Domínguez, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Lentibulariaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Utricularia subulata (Zigzag bladderwort) is a non-native California herb in the Lentibulariaceae family, recognized by terrestrial habit and simple leaves diagnostic.
Zigzag bladderwort is a naturalized perennial found in northern California coastal regions, specifically Mendocino County, in moist acid wetlands at elevations below 1,200 meters. Flowering from June to September, this carnivorous plant produces small flowers 5 to 10 millimeters long with a distinctive lower lip nearly twice the size of the upper lip. Growing with thread-like stems that creep through wet substrates, it forms delicate, flattened leaves less than 20 millimeters long and 1 millimeter wide. Its leaves are remarkable for containing tiny bladder-like traps that capture and digest small aquatic organisms, with each stem bearing multiple bladders. The plant's slender flower stalks can reach 5 to 25 centimeters long, emerging from its intricate network of thin, creeping stems.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; terrestrial habit and simple leaves diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist acid wetlands, introduced with other carnivorous plants by horticulturists
Elevation: < 1200 m
California counties: Mendocino
Outside California: eastern United States, Mexico, +- pantropical
Bloom period
Utricularia subulata blooms Jun-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 subulata native to California?
No. Utricularia subulata is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Utricularia subulata bloom?
Utricularia subulata blooms Jun-Sep.
Where in California does Utricularia subulata grow?
Utricularia subulata occurs in Mendocino, at elevations of < 1200 m.
What plant family does Utricularia subulata belong to?
Utricularia subulata is in the Lentibulariaceae family, genus Utricularia.
What habitat does Utricularia subulata grow in?
Utricularia subulata grows in Moist acid wetlands, introduced with other carnivorous plants by horticulturists.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Utricularia bisquamata
- Utricularia gibba — Gibbous bladderwort
- Utricularia intermedia — Flat-leaved bladderwort
- Utricularia macrorhiza — Common bladderwort
- Utricularia minor — Lesser bladderwort
- Utricularia ochroleuca — Cream-flowered bladderwort
- Lentibulariaceae sp. — Bladderwort family
- Pinguicula macroceras — Horned butterwort
- Pinguicula sp. — Butterwort
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.