 In its native range , U. inflata , a perennial species , can begin to flower in January and may continue through June . In this phase of its growth it produces the most visible and noticeable morphological features of the species : a floating spoke @-@ like whorl of spongy structures at the water 's surface that support the inflorescences , often called a " float " . U. inflata typically produces 6 to 8 spokes on the float ( sometimes anywhere from 5 to 10 ) , with each spoke 3 – 10 cm long and up to 8 mm wide . The apical half of the spokes bear numerous , dichotomously branched leaf @-@ like segments that can also possess some traps . The 20 – 50 cm long erect inflorescences are produced from the center of the floating whorl and are usually solitary or possess very few scapes for each whorl . An individual plant can produce several whorls and inflorescences , but they are typically distant from each other . The inflorescences produce 9 @-@ 14 ( sometimes 4 @-@ 17 ) flowers with unequal calyx lobes , 3 – 5 mm long . The entire corolla can be 2 @-@ 2 @.@ 5 cm long and is bright yellow with brown @-@ colored veins on the spur and brown markings on the lower corolla lobe . 
