Utricularia delicatula is one of New Zealand's two terrestrial species of bladderwort and our only endemic representative of this genus. Plants grow pretty much continuously throughout the year although they may be hard to spot when not in flower. They form small to sometimes extensive mats of tiny green to red leaves 1-10mm long and 0.5-1mm wide on the soil surface. The leaves may extend below ground for several centimetres and bear numerous tiny traps, 0.6mm long, on all subterranean parts. Flowering occurs in mid summer from December to February. The up to 10cm tall scapes bear white (often tinged with lavender) flowers 8mm wide, one above the other. Plants retain their leaves at all times and produce copious quantities of seed.
Habitat -
Bogs and seepages in peatlands and poor sandy soils.
Distribution -
Northern half of the North Island above the 38th parallel at low elevation <200m altitude. Also on the Chatham Islands.
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