Question

Give some examples of hydrophytes.

Answer 1

Hint: Hydrophytes are plants that live in water and adapt to their environment. A plant adapted to living in waterlogged soil or partially or completely submerged in water.

Complete answer:
Many hydrophytes, such as the spiked water milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum), absorb water and gases across their entire surface and have no stomata. They either remain completely submerged in water, such as Hydrilla and Valisineria, or have most of their body parts submerged, such as trapa and lotus. Other important water plants include water lilies, sedges, and crow feet.

Features of hydrophytes:
1. The cuticle is completely absent in submerged plant parts.
2. Cuticle may be present as a thin film on the surface of exposed parts.
3. Epidermal cells contain chloroplasts, which aid in absorption and assimilation.
4. Submerged hydrophytes lack stomata entirely.
5. Gas exchange occurs through diffusion.
6.In Potamogeton, there are non-functional stomata.
7. Hydrophytes with floating leaves have hypostomatous leaves (stomata only on the upper surface). As an example: nelumbo.
8. Mechanical tissues such as collenchyma and sclerenchyma are mostly absent.
9. Xylem is poorly developed in Hydrophytes because water absorption occurs all over the plant body's surface.
10. Aerenchyma can be found in all parts of hydrophytes. The hydrophytes benefit from the buoyancy provided by aerenchyma.

Characteristics of hydrophytes:
1. Water Retention: Plants require water to survive; plants typically have the ability to absorb and retain water, allowing them to survive between watering cycles. Because aquatic plants are submerged in water at all times, they do not require water retention like non-aquatic plants.

2. Flat leaves: Some aquatic plants float on the water's surface; most aquatic plants have flat leaves that serve as flotation for a portion of the plant. The water lily is an example of this plant.

3. Feathery roots: When compared to roots and stem structures, hydrophytes are supported by water; most hydrophytes have small and feathery roots. These are designed to absorb oxygen from the water, and because the plant is completely submerged in water at all times, a long and thick root structure is unnecessary. Salvinia, a free-floating aquatic fern, is one plant with a feathery root.

4. Air sacs: Many hydrophytes have air sacs (chambers) that allow the plant to float on the water's surface. It is important to note that some aquatic plants, such as the buttercup, will float slightly submerged in water.

The most common example of hydrophytes are-
- Lotus (Nelumbo)
- Hydrilla , a commonly seen plants in ponds lakes etc
- Eichhornia which is commonly called as Water Hyacinth.
- Trapa
- Vallisneria
- Potamogeton
- Salvinia

Note: The hydrophytes are classified into four groups based on their relationship to water and air.
1. Free floating hydrophytes.
2. Floating but rooted hydrophytes.
3. Submerged hydrophytes (floating and rooted).
4. Amphibious hydrophytes.