124 FLOWERS OF FIELD, HILL, AND SWAMP 



umbel of flowers from under the leaves near the top of the leaf- 

 stalk, from which place, also, appear sometimes new roots and 

 leaves. Shallow water. Range, from Maine to Florida. Stems 

 sometimes 8 to lo feet long. 



ig. Common Bladderwort 



Uiricularia vulgaris. — Family, Bladderwort. Color, bright 

 yellow. Leaves, under water, finely cut, bearing little bladders. 

 Time, summer. 



The bladderworts, of which Dr. Gray chronicles 12 species, 

 are insectivorous, aquatic plants. The bladders scattered among 

 the leaves serve two purposes — to float the plant at time of flow- 

 ering and to entrap minute water-animal food. 



In U. vulgaris the bladders are large. They are furnished with 

 a hinged lid, and with hairs turning inward, so as to prevent the 

 escape of a larva which may have ventured within the mouth of 

 the bladder. It is said that the hairs keep up a wavy motion and 

 so create a sort of current, which sucks the creature in, if it vent- 

 ures near these traps, 



The bright-yellow blossom, coming to the water's surface on a 

 scape ^ foot long, has a 2-lipped corolla, like some of the figworts. 

 The leaves are very much dissected, and when first pulled up 

 hang stringily together. Take this unpromising plant home, place 

 it in a basin of water, pick off the mud and slime that clings to 

 it, and you have a beautiful botanical specimen. Slip the press- 

 ing paper under while in the water, and dry with several thick- 

 nesses of paper. 



20 



U. snbiilata is a very small species. A short scape, 3 or 4 

 inches high, bears yellow blossoms, half a dozen or so, on 

 hair-like pedicels. The leaves are grass-like, not dissected. 



21 



One species bears a purple flower {U. resupind,td). 



22 

 U. inflhta I have found near the shores of Greenwood Lake, 



