The Butterwort Family (Lentibulariaceae)
	Family Description	You might think that only animals eat other animals, but plants in the Butterwort family group are all carnivorous! The animals eaten by these plants, are all small invertebrates such as insects. These plants trap such "mini-beasts" by various methods. For example, they might catch insects on their sticky leaves. Others suck underwater creatures into little sacks, before digesting them.
	Bladderwort Utricularia vulgaris	This plant is called Bladderwort, because it has little puffed up pockets, like little bladders, on its leaves. You would be quite lucky to spot its pretty yellow flowers, as Bladderwort rarely produces them.
	Habitat	Bladderwort loves deep freshwater and can be found in freshwater lakes and ditches. It loves water that is rich in silt and dissolved nutrients.
	Special features	The little bladder sacks are filled with air to help keep the plant floating near the surface. The bladders also trap little water insects, like water fleas, which die and decay. The insects' bodies release minerals, which are absorbed by the plant. The Bladderwort gets its energy in two ways - firstly by photosynthesis and secondly through its carnivorous insect-eating activities.
	Reproduction	During the winter, little buds form and drop to the bottom of the pond or lake. The buds remain hidden away until temperatures rise the following spring. At this time they grow into new plants. In this way Bladderwort manages to reproduce without the use of seeds.
	Distribution	Seasonal Distribution Buds are formed in the winter. These buds grow into new plants during the spring season. Geographical Distribution We can find Bladderwort throughout the British Isles. However, it is not very common and so is quite hard to find. In 1999 at Broadoak Nature Reserve, Kent, Bladderwort flowered profusely.
	Fun Fact	As water insects swim past, the bladder snaps open and sucks the insect inside.