Aquatic Plants

All land plants have evolved from aquatic ancestors. Species from nearly one hundred
flowering plant families, along with some ferns, mosses, and liver-worts, have
reinvaded the water. Many land plants can tolerate flooding for some time. A good
definition of aquatic plants is therefore difficult. The term is normally used for plants
that grow completely underwater or with leaves floating on the surface. Parts of the
shoot, particularly flowering stems, will often grow up above the water. Most aquatic
plants live in freshwater—in lakes, ponds, reservoirs, canals, or rivers and streams.
These habitats are very different in water depth, flow rates, temperature, acidity and
alkalinity (pH ), and mineral content. Some aquatic plants live in river mouths, with
an ever-changing mixture of fresh- and saltwater, and a few (such as sea grasses) live
completely submerged in the sea. Aquatic plants can be free-floating (e.g., water
hyacinths) or rooted to the bottom of the pond or stream (e.g., water lilies). The most
important grain crop in the world, rice, is an aquatic plant.

Water supply is generally not a problem for aquatic plants. They do not need
waterproof cuticles or a lot of woody tissue to keep them erect. Life underwater,
however, is a challenge. All green plants need oxygen and carbon dioxide. These
gases cannot diffuse easily from the air down through the water. Most of the
alterations in physiology and structure in water plants are adaptations to solve these
gas exchange problems. Many water plants develop large internal air spaces—
aerenchymatous tissues—in their roots and shoots. These air spaces make the tissues
buoyant and help them float. Green leaves, photosynthesizing underwater in the light,
release oxygen that can be temporarily stored in the air space and later used for
cellular respiration. If the plant grows or floats to the surface, oxygen can also easily
diffuse down through the air spaces. One of the water lilies, Nuphar, has even
developed a ventilation system to circulate air from the leaves floating on the water
surface down to its roots in the mud. The rapid growth of shoots to the surface—
called depth accommodation growth—seen in rice seedlings and many other aquatic
and amphibious species, is driven by the shoot buoyancy and a buildup of carbon
dioxide and the naturally produced gas, ethylene, in the tissues under water. Plant
organs in the mud at the bottom of lakes survive long periods without much oxygen.

Aquatic plants require carbon dioxide for photosynthesis. The amount of carbon
dioxide dissolved in water depends on the pH and temperature. Aquatic plants may
acidify their leaf surfaces. This causes carbon dioxide to be liberated from carbonate
and bicarbonate salts dissolved in the water. Underwater leaves are often finely
divided, with a large surface area. Unlike land plants, they may have chloroplasts for
photosynthesis in the surface cell layer—the epidermis.

The amount of light available for photosynthesis declines with depth (especially in
dirty water), and the light quality (the proportion of red, far-red, and blue light) is also
altered. Some species (e.g., Potamogeton, Sagittaria ) can produce underwater,
floating, or emergent leaves, each with different shapes and structures all on the same
plant—a phenomenon called heterophylly. This is a response to light quality and the
amount of a plant hormone, abscisic acid (which is at slightly higher levels in
emergent shoots).

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Most aquatic plants flower and set seed. Many of them, however, can also grow
rapidly and reproduce vegetatively. Aquatic plants, particularly free-floating species,
can colonize the surface of a water body very quickly. If the water dries up, plants can
produce a variety of tubers and resting buds (turions) that will persist in the mud until
the water returns. These abilities make aquatic plants some of the most troublesome
and persistent weeds in the world, particularly in tropical and subtropical countries.
There is, understandably, considerable reluctance to put herbicides into rivers and
lakes. A wide variety of control methods, including mechanical harvesting and the
introduction of fish and other animals to eat them, have been attempted. The canal
system of late nineteenth-century Britain was clogged with introduced Elodea
canadensis; the water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes, has spread from tropical South
America to waterways in Africa, Asia, and North America; and Salvinia auriculata, a
free-floating aquatic fern, rapidly covered the 190-kilometer lake behind the Kariba
Dam on the Zambezi River in Africa in the 1960s. The Everglades and waterways of
the southeastern United States have been repeatedly invaded by quickly spreading,
alien aquatic plants.

Many aquatic habitats, and the aquatic plants that live in them, however, are under
constant threat from pollution and from drainage for urban and industrial development
across the globe. Aquatic plants can help remove pollutants and purify our water
supplies. They are also a vital part of a fully functional aquatic ecosystem for fish and
other wildlife.

Water Plants
Water plants are widely considered the best way to enhance water features. Sometimes
called aquatic plants, there is a water plant for virtually every type of water feature, from
the smallest tabletop fountains to multi-level streams and expansive ponds. The type of
water plant that will best suit your landscape is largely determined by your
requirements, as well as the growing characteristics of each plant. Consider the USDA
Hardiness Zone, growth habit and mature size, sun or shade requirements, and ideal
planting conditions.
 CATTAIL

Native to North America and parts of Europe and Asia, cattails feel right at home in
wetlands and boggy soil. Height (4 to 6 feet); upright, swordlike leaves; and familiar
cylindrical fruiting spike displayed by female plants after summer flowering and
pollination. The fruiting spikes, which persist through winter, are a favorite landing spot
for red-winged blackbirds and dragonflies. Cattails also provide a valuable habitat for
wetland birds and other wildlife.

Along with their contributions to landscaping projects, cattails are collected for use in
both fresh and dried arrangements and eaten as produce. The rhizomes of narrowleaf
cattail Typha angustifolia can be peeled and cooked like potatoes, for example. Young
spring shoots, which have a nutty flavor, can be used like asparagus. Stay safe,
though—always wash cattails before adding them to the menu, and never consume
them if they come from areas with contaminated water.

Pickerel Weed

Quiet ponds and wetlands are excellent growing places for low-maintenance and easy-
to-grow pickerel weed. Its blue-green, heart-shape leaves have a waxy feel and provide
a backdrop for the plant’s purple-blue flower spikes. The 6-inch-long flowers bloom from
the bottom up and decorate the plant nonstop from summer through fall. A valuable
source of nectar for bees and butterflies, pickerel weed beckons winged visitors to the
 garden. Fish often take shelter in pickerel weed and dragonflies and damselflies often
lay their eggs on the plant stems near the water.

Arrowhead

Arrowhead, which earned its name because of its arrow-shape leaves, is a no-fuss
water garden plant that adds a lush, tropical feel to ponds, pools, and water features.
Several species are available, many of which are native to areas of North America.
They all bear attractive three-petal flowers throughout summer and are largely carefree
once established. Check carefully when you buy: Some species are considered invasive
and have naturalized in streams, ponds, and other waterways. Several types of
arrowhead plant form starchy tubers (similar to small potatoes) that can be harvested
and eaten by humans. Birds and other creatures also eat these tubers, making the plant
a valuable choice for attracting wildlife.
 Amazon lily

Amazon lily is nothing short of magnificent. In a large pond, this plant's leaves can reach
6 feet across and are covered in spiny prickles. The flowers, which appear in summer,
start as thorn-covered green buds that open to large white masterpieces that fade pink.
The blooms have the fragrance of ripe pineapple.

Water Snowflake

Delicate flowers and glossy leaves make this easy-to-grow water garden plant a
favorite. The yellow form is also called floating heart, thanks to the heart-shape leaves
that float like water lily leaves on the pond surface. Add water snowflake to in-ground
water gardens or container gardens. Unlike some water garden plants, water snowflake
is generally well-behaved and doesn’t overtake nearby plants.

Water Lily

By covering the water surface, they shade the water and keep it cooler, which helps
control algae that thrives in heat. Water lilies also shelter fish from birds of prey filter out
excess nutrients to further inhibit algae growth.
Growing from stout rhizomes from the pond bottom, water lilies’ signature leaves
develop on long stems and float at the surface. When temperatures warm up in
summer, water lilies’ showy flowers open in the morning and close at night.

Water lettuce

This water plant is grown for its beautiful, velvety foliage that really does resemble a
dense carpet of lettuce heads flowering on the water. It can be an important plant for
ponds as it shades the water and gives small fish a place to hide. In cold climates, treat
this tender floating plant as an annual and replace every year. Note: In warm-winter
climates, water lettuce can be invasive. Check to see if the plant is banned in your area
before planting it.

Water Hyacinth

Water hyacinth is a friend or foe, depending on where it is growing. A vigorous water

plant, water hyacinth is invasive and is illegal to plant in many states, primarily Zones 9
to 11. So be sure to check local regulations if you’re interested in planting water
hyacinth. In areas where it is legal, the plant is a colorful and texture-rich addition to
water gardens. Water hyacinth plays a helpful role in water gardens, where it provides
shelter and spawning area for small fish. The dense foliage also inhibits algae growth
and helps keep water clear.