| Author | Nash | |
| Distribution | Formerly known from just Wayne and Bladen counties, but has not been seen in the state since "pre-1989". Known from White Lake in Bladen and an unspecified lake in Wayne. In fact, Wayne County has no natural lakes or ponds, and thus the editors feel like this specimen is probably incorrectly identified.
This is a relatively scarce species north of FL; ranges north just to NC and west to southern AL, with essentially all records being in the Coastal Plain. | |
| Abundance | Formerly very rare, but now considered of historical occurrence. It might literally be extirpated now, but few botanists search for and collect bladderworts, so there is hope still. It is listed as state Significantly Rare by the NCNHP. | |
| Habitat | This species is essentially restricted to fairly deep water of lakes and ponds, primarily in Carolina bay lakes, limesink ponds, and other natural lakes. It typically roots in mud or soil that is often 2-3 feet below the surface of the water. |
| Phenology | Blooms in July and August, and fruits shortly after flowering. | |
| Identification | This is an odd bladderwort species. Though the above-water portion of the plant can look quite a bit like U. striata, with several large bright yellow flowers held up to 1 foot out of the water, this flowering stem is quite flexuous and is not strictly erect. Underwater, this stem can thus be 2-3 feet long and may be horizontal or diagonal and is clearly not simply erect. The leaves can be over 1 foot long, as well, but these are underwater as well. Both this species and U. striata have leaves of two types, some with small bladders and others essentially without; U. gibba and U. biflora have all leaves with bladders. Unfortunately for NC biologists, there are a fair number of natural Carolina bay lakes in Bladen County that are protected and essentially free of development; sadly, the only location where it was ever found in the county was at White Lake, which has been surrounded by development for several decades. Though the NCNHP never wants to have to change a rank from SH to the dreaded SX (considered to be extirpated, with little likelihood of being found again), the time may be coming where SX is the correct state rank. | |
| Taxonomic Comments | Not considered by Weakley (2018) to have other synonyms, but it was not included in RAB (1968). The Wayne County specimen, at DUKE, is from 1955, but the label annotation by a reviewer says "probably U. floridana but could be a large form of U. fibrosa [now U. striata] -- inflorescence needed". Thus, RAB (1968) may have included this in "U. fibrosa" in that reference.
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| Other Common Name(s) | Florida Bladderwort | |
| State Rank | SH | |
| Global Rank | G3G5 | |
| State Status | SR-T | |
| US Status | | |
| USACE-agcp | OBL link |
| USACE-emp | OBL link |
