Hydrophytes
The wide flat leaves of the water lily help distribute the
plants weight over a large area, thus helping it float near the water surface.
Hydrophytes (water + plant) are plants which
are able to live either in water itself or in very moist soils.
Hydrophyte survival characteristics:
1. Thin cuticle.
2. Stomata open most of time (as water is abundant).
3. Increased # of stomata.
4. Plants in water have less structure (water pressure supports them).
5. Large flat leaves on surface plants for flotation.
6. Air sacs for flotation.
7. Reduction in roots (H2O can diffuse directly into leaves).
8. Roots of of water plants are feathery to hold up plant.
9. Roots modified to pick up oxygen.
This buttercup is floating slightly submerged in water. Only
the flowers are above the water. The leaves and roots are long and thin and
almost hair-like. this helps spread the mass of the plant over a wide area,
making it more buoyant. The long roots and thin leaves also provide a greater
surface area for uptake of mineral solutes and oxygen.
Long & Slichter