Waterplants

Waterplants, also called aquatic plants, are species that live in or on water for at least part of their life cycle. They include truly aquatic plants that live submerged or floating, as well as emergent species rooted in the substrate but with leaves and stems extending into the water column.

They occur in freshwater ecosystems such as ponds, lakes, rivers, and wetlands, and some marine habitats with shallow tidal flats. Adaptations include buoyant or aerenchymatous tissues, underwater photosynthesis, reduced cuticles, and specialized root systems to absorb nutrients from water or mud.

Common examples range from water lilies (Nymphaea) and lotuses (Nelumbo) with buoyant leaves, to submerged plants like watermilfoil (Myriophyllum), pondweed (Potamogeton), and hornwort. Free-floating species such as duckweed (Lemna) and water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) are often prominent in nutrient-rich waters.

Ecologically, waterplants provide habitat, shade, and cover for aquatic animals, help stabilize sediments, and take up excess nutrients, contributing to water quality. They are also valued in horticulture and aquariums for aesthetics and oxygenation. Propagation is via seeds, rhizomes, stolons, or fragmentation.

Some waterplants are invasive or noxious in certain regions, including water hyacinth, hydrilla, and water lettuce, requiring management to protect native habitats. Conservation focuses on protecting wetlands and clean water to preserve native aquatic flora.