Piedmont bladderwort facts for kids
Utricularia olivacea, also known as the piedmont bladderwort, is a very tiny plant that lives in water. It's a special type of carnivorous plant, which means it eats small living things. This plant is an annual plant, so it lives for about one year. It floats freely in the water, not rooted to the bottom.
Quick facts for kids Piedmont bladderwort |
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Utricularia
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olivacea
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About the Piedmont Bladderwort
The piedmont bladderwort is part of a group of plants called Utricularia. These plants are famous for being carnivorous. This means they catch and digest small creatures, usually tiny water insects or larvae.
Where it Lives
This small plant is found in several parts of the world. It grows naturally in Central America and South America. You can also find it in the Caribbean islands, sometimes called the West Indies. In the United States, it lives along the eastern coast. This includes areas from Mississippi all the way up to New Jersey. It prefers wet, coastal plains.
How it Catches Food
Like other bladderworts, Utricularia olivacea has tiny, special traps called bladders. These bladders are like small sacs with a trapdoor. When a tiny water creature touches a trigger hair on the bladder, the trapdoor opens very quickly. The bladder sucks in water and the creature, trapping it inside. Then, the plant slowly digests its meal. This helps the plant get extra nutrients it needs to grow.
See also
In Spanish: Utricularia olivacea para niños
