Utricularia

Morphological Summary

The most species-diverse genus of carnivorous plants in the world with ~215 species, and the only one with active vacuum traps. Utricles are tiny bladders (0.5-6 mm) that maintain negative pressure and capture prey in milliseconds via a trap door. Ecologically very diverse: aquatic, semi-aquatic, and terrestrial in bogs. Some barely visible to the naked eye; others with showy flowers. Present on all continents except Antarctica.