The Bladderwort
The
Bladderwort is a carnivorous plant,which means it gets some of its food
from animals, small fish, or insects it catches.
The bladderwort family makes up 5 kinds of widely spread herbs. The most
popular kind has about 275 different bladderworts found in tropical climates.
Most bladderworts live in tropical climates, but some live in North America.
It has a green stem and yellow flowers. It has many bladders
attached
to the stem under water. The Common Bladderwort has no roots, it just floats
freely in ponds. You may ask how does it get its nutrients? The many bladders
under water have many sensitive bristles on each bladder. When the bristles
feel a bug or minnow brushing against it, it suddenly expands. Then it
sucks the creature in and traps it. The food from the creature gives the
bladderwort the nutrients that other plants get from roots. Therefore,
this plant is a consumer and near the top of the pond food chain.
by Garret
N.
This page was created by the Osseo-Fairchild sixth grade students
supported by a Cluster A Goals 2000 Grant
Created 4/8/1999 Updated 4/8/1999
sdp
You may contact us at: spoore@mail.ofsd.k12.wi.us
Return
to Plant Index
Return to Ecosystems page
Return to Wetland Directory