According to the BSBI, Greater Bladderwort (Utricularia vulgaris) can only be distinguished from Bladderwort (Utricularia australis) reliably when flowers are present, so for records where this is not the case we have decided to treat the two as an aggregate. Examination of a specimen is likely to be needed for accurate identification. The plants are free floating with much branched green leaves that have bladders on.

Records from this species should be confirmed by a County Recorder for botany.  It is on the VC55 Rare Plant Register, and therefore a specimen should not be taken.  Take detailed field photos and submit to NatureSpot as soon as possible; and if you think you have found it in a new location, inform the County Recorder as soon you can. (RPR)

Found in still or sluggish, acidic to basic, nutrient-poor waters over inorganic or peaty substrates.

Flowering is irregular and may not occur in some years in any given population.

Insectivorous perennial.

Widespread but not particularly common in Britain.

Rare in Leicestershire and Rutland and possibly introduced in the two recorded sites.  

It is listed on the current VC55 Rare Plant Register (Hall and Woodward 2022) as Locally Rare (i.e. present in less than 3 sites)