What are Hydrophytes

What are Hydrophytes?

Hydrophytes are plants that grow and thrive in or on water bodies. These plants are specially adapted to survive in or on water bodies and thus have very unique features and are very different from typical plants that we can see on land.

There are different types of hydrophytes:

Floating Plants- This type of hydrophyte floats on the surface of the water and can move around the surface if strong winds and running water intervene. 

Marginal Plants- This type of plant can be found growing around a water body. Swamp areas that get regular direct contact with water even though that particular place is not the main water body itself are a prime spot for the growth of marginal plants.

Deepwater Plants- These thrive deep inside the water body, close to the bottom of the water body. 

Oxygenating Plants- These plants grow deep inside the water and produce a lot of oxygen. These plants are very fast-growing. 

Characteristics of Hydrophytes

Flat Leaves- The flat leaves help the plant to keep itself afloat in the water. The leaves are specially adapted to withstand the contact of water for a long time.

Feathery Roots- Because the plants are in the water, the weight of the plant is mostly carried by the water itself and so, the roots are not that deep and strong like plants we see on the land surface. The roots are feathery and small and are specially designed to maximise oxygen intake from the air into the water. 

Air Sacks- This special feature can be mostly seen in floating plants. The air sacks support the plant to float and in most cases, the plant floats above the water surface. However, in some cases, the plant can float underneath the water surface and that is possible because of these air sacs.  

Examples

The Water Lily is a great example of a hydrophyte. Other examples include Nymphaea Lotus, Azolla Filiculoides, and Pistia Stratiotes.