Stems elongate, submersed; lower lvs alternate, 3 cm, repeatedly dichotomous into filiform segments, each bearing bladders; uppermost lvs subtending the peduncle in whorls of 4–7, the rachis of each 1–4 cm, inflated, usually thickest at or below the middle, bearing at the tip a series of finely dissected branches; peduncles 3–5 cm; bracts 2–3 mm, at least as wide as long, sometimes lobed; lower pedicels 1–2 cm; fls (1–)3–5(–7), yellow; sep 3–4 mm; upper cor-lip subrotund; lower lip subrotund, 8–10 mm, shallowly 3-lobed, with a prominent small palate; spur shorter than and appressed to the lower lip; 2n=28. Ponds along or near the coastal plain; Me. to Fla. and Tex.; nw. Ind. May–Aug. (U. inflata var. minor)