Plants of Watery Communities
Water plants may grow partly in and partly out of the water. Freshwater plants such as cattails, bulrushes, bur reeds, and papyrus have tough roots that give them a firm grip in the mud. Saltwater plants that do this include cordgrass, sedges, and mangroves.
Water lilies and lotuses root themselves in the mud at the bottom of a pond and spread their plate-like leaves over the surface of the water. The leaves of the huge Amazonian water lily grow up to 1.8 metres across.
Other water plants, such as duckweed and frogbit, float on top of the water. Their roots hang down into the water. They do not have stems at all.
Still other water plants live completely underwater. Even plants that live underwater need air. Freshwater plants have special features that enable them to survive. These plants have air spaces in their stems. The air spaces carry air down through the stem to the roots. They also help keep the plant standing up straight in the water.
Picture Credit : Google