Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden, South Africa

Family: Lentibulariaceae (Bladderwort)

Distribution: Global

National red list: Least Concern

Life form: Aquatic

Comments: We have a some very cool carnivorous plants at SUBG, but this rather inconspicuous one might just be the coolest. It wasn’t even on our database before today, so likely established itself in the small raised pond at the end of Arid House 1. Utricularia gibba grows as a mat in still water, and those small bladder traps are by far the most sophisticated carnivorous plant mechanism, making venus fly traps looks dull and plodding by comparison. The plant actively pumps each bladder empty, but as soon as one of the little trigger hairs is touched, the entrance seal is mechanically opened and the bladder springs outward, creating a rapid suction, ulling in tiny animals. They’re even able to grab extremities of bigger bugs and even tadpoles or small fish, sucking them in over time.
With all that work, it’s also interesting that they have very unusual respiration mechanisms to support the energy needs.