One of our carnivorous species, Bladderworts speckle the surface of bog pools, ditches, peat cuttings and other nutrient-poor muddy ground. This species, Lesser Bladderwort, is a difficult plant to find as it inhabits raised bogs and places where it is quite difficult to get to. Its flowers are pale yellow (6-8mm long) and are borne in loose clusters of 2-6 on slender stems. The two-lipped flowers have very small, blunt 1-2mm spurs; the edges of the lower lip are turned downwards. They bloom in June and July. The leaves are without bristles and finely divided into thread-like, untoothed segments. This is a native aquatic which is generally found locally in most areas apart from the east of Ireland.
I saw this species in Newcastle, Co Wicklow in 1988 and then not again until July 2014 in Ballycroy National Park, Co Mayo when Bríd Colhoun showed it to me. I am very grateful to her for her help and information and for being so generous with her time and knowledge. I photographed the species at that time.
If you are satisfied you have correctly identified this plant, please submit your sighting to the National Biodiversity Data Centre
