Water
(aquatic) plants are plants that have adapted to living in aquatic
environments. They are also referred to as aquatic macrophytes. A
macrophyte is an aquatic plant that grows in or near water and is either
emergent, submergent, or floating. In lakes macrophytes provide cover
for fish and substrate for aquatic invertebrates, produce oxygen, and
provides food for some fish and wildlife.
Aquatic plants are unique because they require special adaptations
for living submerged in water, or at the water's surface. These plants
can only grow in water or in soil that is permanently saturated with
water. Aquatic vascular plants have vascular tissues, which circulate
resources through the plant. This feature allows vascular plants to
develop to a larger size than non-vascular plants, which lack these
specialized conducting tissues and are therefore restricted to
relatively small sizes. Seaweeds are not vascular plants; rather they
are multicellular marine algae, and therefore are not typically included
among aquatic plants. This type of plant does not have a problem
retaining water, due to the abundance of water in their environment.
This means there is less need to regulate transpiration, a process
similar to evaporation, which would require more energy and be of little
benefit to the plant.
Aquatic plants have certain distinguishing characteristics, such as:
1. A thin cuticle. Thick cuticles reduce water loss, thus aquatics have no need for thick cuticles.
2. Stomata that are open most of the time due to the abundance of water and there is no need for it to retain in the plant.
3. An increased number of stomata, which can be on either side of the leaves.
4. A less rigid structure, water pressure supports them.
5. Air sacs for flotation
6. Flat leaves on surface plants for flotation.
7. Small roots because the water can diffuse directly into the leaves. Large root systems are not required for water intake.
2. Stomata that are open most of the time due to the abundance of water and there is no need for it to retain in the plant.
3. An increased number of stomata, which can be on either side of the leaves.
4. A less rigid structure, water pressure supports them.
5. Air sacs for flotation
6. Flat leaves on surface plants for flotation.
7. Small roots because the water can diffuse directly into the leaves. Large root systems are not required for water intake.
Many species of aquatic plant are invasive species. Aquatic plants
make particularly good weeds because they reproduce vegetatively from
fragments.
We all are very familiar with the water hyacinth, a free-floating
perennial plant native to tropical and sub-tropical South America. The
hyacinth has broad, thick, glossy, ovate leaves, and may rise above the
surface of the water as much as 1 meter high.
It is one of the fastest growing plants known, reproducing primarily
by way of runners which eventually form daughter plants. Also, large
quantities of seeds are produced and they are viable up to 30 years. The
common water hyacinth are aggressive growers known to double their
population in 2 weeks.
A bit of trivia for your next game:
In Southern Pakistan they are the provincial flower of Sindh.
In the Philippines, enterprising individuals use some of the water
hyacinth's stems and dry it to take its fibers and take them to form
strands of string. This string is woven or interlinked together to form a
hemp used for making bags, footwear, wreaths, hats, vases, Christmas
lanterns and other decorative items. Since the water lily is in
abundance, a nuisance to some, lets individuals earn money by selling
these items and indirectly aids in cleaning up the overpopulated bodies
of water that are full of water hyacinths.
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