About Adaptations of Hydrophytes

Adaptations of hydrophytes

                Plants that are growing in wet places or in water are called hydrophytes. They are also known as aquatic plants. e.g. Lotus, Vallisneria, Hydrilla, Pistia, Eichhornia, Marsilea, etc.

The aquatic plants have the following adaptations:

1. In most of the hydrophytes, the development of root is very poor. Due to availability of water in plenty, the roots become insignificant.

2. The root hairs and root caps are absent in them.

3. In Eichhornia and  Pistia the root caps are replaced by 'root pockets'. They anchor the free floating plants.

4. The stem is thin and delicate. It is green or yellow in colour.

5. The leaves are reduced in size e.g. Hydrilla. They are long and ribbon shaped as in Vallisneria. They are very large and broad as in lotus.

6. In lotus, the petiole shows indefinite power of growth and it keeps the upper surface of the leaf exposed to air. the upper surface is coated with wax which do not allow droplets of water to stagnate on the surface on the surface of leaf.

7. In lotus, Eichhornia and Pistia the petioles are provided with large number of air chambers. They are filled with respiratory and other gases. They provide buoyancy and mechanical support to aquatic plants.