Question

What is an example of an aquatic plant?

Answer 1

Hint: Aquatic plants are plants that have adapted to living in water. To distinguish them from algae and other microphytes, they are also known as hydrophytes or macrophytes.Aquatic plants require special adaptations to survive submerged or at the water's surface.

Complete answer:
The depth and duration of flooding are the most important factors controlling the distribution of aquatic plants. However, other factors such as nutrients, disturbance from waves, grazing, and salinity may also influence their distribution, abundance, and growth form. Only a few aquatic plants can survive in brackish, saline, or salt water.

Aquatic plants are of three types mainly:
1. Floating aquatic plants:
The plant that floats freely on water is known as a floating aquatic plant. These plants are not attached to the surface of the water. They float freely in water due to air-filled cavities in their leaves and stems. These cavities lighten them and allow them to float freely. Water lettuce, water hyacinth, duckweed, and other plants are examples.

2. Fixed aquatic plants:
Fixed aquatic plants include the Lotus and Water Lily. Their roots are attached to the pond's bottom.
They have broad, flat leaves that allow them to float easily on the water's surface while also allowing them to get enough sunlight and air for photosynthesis. Chloroplasts are only found on the top surface of leaves that are exposed to sunlight.
Chloroplasts contain pigments that absorb sunlight for photosynthesis, the process by which plants produce food. Its stem is shaped like a hollow pipe, which allows it to blend in with the flow of water.

3. Underwater aquatic plants:
Hydrilla and Tape Grass are examples of plants that grow entirely underwater. They have a stem that is extremely flexible.
These plants increase the amount of oxygen in the water while decreasing the amount of carbon dioxide. As a result, these plants make the water suitable for other aquatic animals and aid in the absorption of oxygen.

Note: Algae are the most common and oldest type of aquatic plant. They are mostly found in the ocean and have no roots, stems, or leaves. Although algae are extremely small, they are the foundation of the ocean food chain. Algae species include lyngbya and muskgrass.