Common Name:
BOG BLADDERWORT
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Coefficient of Conservatism:
8
Coefficient of Wetness:
-5
Wetness Index:
OBL
Physiognomy:
Nt P-Forb
A. A. Reznicek
Softwater lakes and bog pools.
Plants with either chasmogamous flowers (similar to those of U. gibba) or cleistogamous ones, or both, are easily identified. Vegetative fragments of foliage, on the other hand, have always given trouble to botanists. The extraordinarily delicate foliage (alga-like, going totally limp on removal from the water) and restriction to boggy habitat are helpful clues. A few minute spicules [30×] are usually present on the margins of the ultimate leaf segments, distinguishing this species from U. gibba (as does the greater number of forks in the branching). The segments, though usually hair-like, sometimes appear somewhat flattened, especially when dried, though narrower and more forked than usual for U. minor; but the distinction is not always as easy as one would like. Just as small fragments of U. geminiscapa may mimic U. minor or U. gibba, small branchlets of U. vulgaris may mimic U. geminiscapa.