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LESSON 2

Plants live in common habitats, from land to

water, in cold and hot zones, and several regions

around the world. Some plants are edible, and

some are not. Plants can manufacture their own

food by means of photosynthesis. Aquatic plants

are types of plants which live on water. They can be

seen mostly in seas and rivers. In this lesson, you

will learn about aquatic plants, characteristics of

aquatic plants that differs from other plant types,

their classification based from the bodies of water,

and why they are essential to the environment. You

will also learn on how to utilize them in different

Key

Understanding

Aquatic plants have good

weeds because they

multiply vegetatively from

fragments.

Aquatic plants lives in

different bodies of water,

and the waters salt levels

intervene with the growth

and reproduction of such

plants.

1 1 What are the characteristics ofaquatic plants? Key Questions

What are the

characteristics of aquatic

plants that made it unique

to other plants? How do one differentiate

aquatic plants according to

their habitat?

How can we utilize aquatic

plants?

Key Words

Aquatic plants

Water lily

Swamp plants

Salt marsh plants

Halophyte

Water hyacinth

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Quick Lab 5 - 2

AQUATIC PLANTS AND THEIRCHARACTERISTICS

Identify the characteristics of the aquatic plants.

Materials Needed:

Images of aquatic plants (Water lily, Hydrocharis, Duck weeds, Lotus,

Water Cabbage) and their description

Aquatic Plants Group Common

Habitat

Water Lily

Hydrocharis

Duck weeds

Lotus

Water Cabbage

Quick Test 5-2

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Directions: Look for the words that are listed below.

Swamp plants Water lily Halophyte Pond weed

Duck weeds Cattail Phragmites

Lotus Java Moss Salt Hay

J J P H R A G M I T E S

A W A T E R L I L Y P A

V A S V D G A P H R Q E

A S S Y A H T L A S V D

T N A L P M A W S S A W

O A H H A L O P H Y T E

D P O N G F E S A T L W

D U C K W E E D S U I D

A W E I D W A T U S L N

L L I E L I A T T A C O

I W A T E T O C O T O P

G R A D E V A D L A I L

WORD HUNT

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Investigate 5-2

Name:_____________________ Group:_______________ Rating: __________

Activity

Problem

How does a plant grow in water?

Materials

Plant

Tap Water/Pond Water

Empty can

Scissors

Procedure

1. Form a group consisting of three members.

2.Go to your school, and search for plants that can grow on water (e.g., pond

plants).

3. Pour the water onto the empty can.

4.Cut the plant, then place it in the can.

5. Afterwards,place it on a place with direct heat from sunlight.

6. Observe the plant.

7.If the plant grows with the water, then you are done.

Observation and Results

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1.List down your observation about the plant. Classify it according to its

description and habitat by completing the table below.

Plant Name Description Habitat

2.Illustrate the aquatic plant that you observed and label its parts.

3. Answer the following questions:

a. Based from your observations, does the plant grow? If Yes, how? If No,why?

b. Set your own criteria for the plants to be considered as aquatic.

c. How would you manage aquatic plants?

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Conclusion

Complete the statement below.

An aquatic plant is a __________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Learn

Aquatic Plants

Thousands of plants live in water habitats around

the world: on edges and surfaces of water, or below the

lakes and ponds, in flooded areas, at springs, in streams

and rivers, among others.Plants that grows and lives in water are called

Aquatic Plants. Aquatic Plants are also known as

hydroplants or aquatic macrophages. Here are some of

the characteristics of aquatic plants:

1. They are permanently saturated with water.

2. Have air sacs for flotation.

3. Smaller roots than other plants, so that water can

diffuse directly into their leaves.4. Supported by water pressure.

5. Open stomata, because of the plenty water which holds

them.

Glimpse of HistoryThe history o

aquatic plants date

back many thousan

years ago from Ancien

Egypt, India, and China

Aquatic plants such a

water lily and lotu

played significant role

in different cultures antraditions of thes

civilizations. Ancien

Egyptians manufactur

flour from the sun-drie

lotus roots. Lotus petal

were uncovered in th

tomb of Ramses

during an excavation i1881, suggesting that i

was an integral elemen

of life in Egypt abou

5,000 years ago.

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Examples of Aquatic Plants

The following are examples of aquatic plants based from

their habitat.

1. Swamp plantsThey are semiaquatic plants that exist in

soft wetland and has a special way to cope with its extreme

conditions.

Examples:

a. Water LiliesPlants that are rooted in the swamp, andcan also be seen on ponds, lakes, and rivers. They are

considered as emergent.

b. Cattail This aquatic plant is found on a dense stand.

Cattails are usually seen in marshes, rivers, and lakes. They

are considered as emergent.

Glimpse ofHistoryIn India, the

lotus is the nationa

flower. It symbolizes

purity and

enlightenment. The

Lotus Goddess,

Lakshmi, also known as

Kamala portrays

carrying lotuses in

reliefs dating back to

200 B.C. In China,

Japan and Korea, the

seeds, flowers, leaves

and rhizomes of the

lotus are considered

edible and can be

manufactured as foods,

beverages and teas

Aquatic plants are generally divided into four groups for management purposes.

These groups are the following:

1. Floating plantsAquatic plants which floats only on water surfaces.

2.Submerged plantsAquatic plants that have roots underwater.

3. Emergent plants

Aquatic plants which are rooted along the shoreline. It standsfrom above the water surface.

4. Algae - Algae are very primitive plants. Some algae are microscopic (planktonic

algae), others are thin and stringy or hair-like (filamentous algae), while still others

are lar e and resemble hi her lants but without true roots chara .

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c. Duck weeds Aquatic plants that grow and float freely

in the water.

2. Salt Marsh plantsSalt marsh plants are plants which

resides on coastal wetlands that are flooded and drained by

salt water brought in by the tides.

a. Halophyte- aplant that grows in waters of highsalinity

which comes into contact with saline water through its

roots or by salt spray.

b. Phragmites- a large perennial grass found in wetlands

throughout temperate and tropical regions of the world.

Trivia Hydroponics is the

technique in which

the plants are

grown in water

without the soil. Aquatic plants can

be deemed as

beneficial and

harmful. They are

beneficial because

they are potent

source ofrenewable energy

such as biofuels,

electricity, as

ornamental plants,

as source of animal

and human food,

and as textiles.

They can also beharmful to our

environment since

some of them are

considered invasive

and destructive.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salinityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salinityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant

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c. Salt Hay - a common grass of the high marsh.

3. Pond plants are aquatic plants that can be found in ponds and

small streams.

Examples:

a. Kang Kong (Water Spinach) -a semiaquatic tropical plant grown as

a leaf vegetable (very high in iron) that grows in water or on moist

soil.

b. Lotusan aquatic perennial the flowers, seeds, young leaves, and

"roots" (rhizomes) are all edible.

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c. Fairy Mossor Water Fern- a group of tiny, free-floating

aquatic ferns. Like duckweeds, they provide cover for many

small animals, shade for a pond and food for waterfowl.

4. Sea plantsprovide habitats formany marine creatures

including shrimp,bivalves,fish, plankton, and other small

organisms. In large concentrations, these plants stabilize the

substrate that might otherwise be affected by erosion.

a. Marine Algae- These plants are abundant in coastal

areas, usually anchoring themselves to a hard surface using

specialized holdfast structures.

b. Marine grasses (seagrass and marsh grass)differ from

marine algae in that they have roots and leaves and produce

flowers and seedsthey are in fact flowering plants, just

like the roses and daisies in your garden.

areer inScience

The Bureau ofFisheries and Aquatic

Resources (BFAR),

under the Department

of Agriculture is the

governing body of the

Philippines which

manages and takes

care of fisheries and

aquatic resources,

such as aquatic plants

The agency monitors

current situations

regarding different

species that belongs to

aquatic plants.

http://www.museumoftheearth.org/outreach.php?page=Edu_Prog/s_us_home/s_us_species-marine-life-of-the-gulf-coast/s_us_bivalveshttp://www.museumoftheearth.org/outreach.php?page=Edu_Prog/s_us_home/s_us_species-marine-life-of-the-gulf-coast/s_us_bivalves

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c. Mangroves -ideal plants for wet and salty coastal areas

These trees are a type of evergreen that specialize in

growing sprawling, sturdy root foundations in muddy areas.

5. Ocean plants

serves as food and shelter for manycreatures in the ocean.

Examples:

a. Kelp- an ocean plant that grows in cold coastal waters. It

is the biggest marine plant in the world and has been known

to reach a height of 250 feet. Kelp is also the fastest growing

plant in the world.

b. Seaweeds - It is a form of microscopic algae called

phytoplankton. Seaweed has been harvested for years byhumans to be consumed as food, used as shelter, and even

used for medicinal purposes.

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6. Lake plantsThey are aquatic plants that can be source

of food and shelter to freshwater animals.

Examples:

a. Hydrilla Can be found in all bodies of water, it forms

dense mats that interferes with the fish and wildlife

habitats.

b. Water HyacinthIt is an invasive plant which grows in all

types of freshwater and creates a large, and heavy mats that

blocks rivers and lakes.

c. Eurasian Watermilfoil An invasive aquatic plant which

lives in a wide range of water conditions (both freshwater

and saltwater).

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In Focus

Using Mechanical Controls to Reduce

Invasive Aquatic Plants

The use of mechanical controls for invasive aquatic plants began in

response to the growing threat of water hyacinth throughout the world,

especially in the United States and Philippines. In the first half of the 20th

Century, plant managers explored the use of chemical control methods, but the

technology was in its infancy. Subsequently, most were rejected because of their

ineffectiveness or toxicity to non-target species. This resulted in almost exclusive

use of mechanical methods such as crusher boats, destruction (saw) boats,

elevators and harvesters.Crusher boats, or Kennys were used in Florida to control water hyacinth until the

late 1940s. The machines hauled plants aboard, crushed them under 40,000

pounds of pressure per square inch, and discharged them back to the water or

onto shore. Discharge back to the water was the most likely method since shore

disposal was inhibited by shallow water, dense tree growth, or the protests of

waterfront landowners. Hi-ballers were a variation of crusher boats. These

floating machines collected plants, ground them up, and used a water-cannon to

fire the plant slurry to the shore. Hi-ballers were used mainly for canal

maintenance in remote areas.

Currently, many machines and equipments are used for harvesting,

cutting, disposing, and shredding of invasive aquatic plants and weeds. One of

those is the mechanical weed cutter, which cuts aquatic plants a few feet below

the water surface.When more mobility is needed, barge-mounted track hoes or

draglines can be used for transportation to off-shore control sites. In that case,

plants are loaded on an attending barge and hauled to the disposal site.

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Concepts at a Glance

Aquatic plants grow on water surfaces. There are different characteristics of aquatic plants which differs them from

terrestrial plants. One example is their support for water pressure. Aquatic plants vary based on different marine ecosystem such as

freshwater (consists of ponds, lakes and rivers), saltwater (sea and ocean),

and wetlands (swamps and salt marshes). Aquatic are divided into four groups:

1. Floating plants, which floats only on water surfaces.

2. Submerged plants, which have roots underwater.

3. Emergent plants, which are rooted on the shoreline.

4. Algae, primitive aquatic plants which are microscopic.

Science Connections

Arts

Water Hyacinth as Commodity

On the left is an example

of the mechanical barge,

which can harvest floating

aquatic plants and trees.

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In the Philippines,Water Hyacinth can be considered as both an aquatic

plant and invasive species. However, they are also beneficial. Water hyacinths are

created as reusable items such as bags, furniture, mats, and decorative items. The

stalks are usually dried up to prevent rotting.

For more details on how to make bags and other materials from water

hyacinth, please visit http://www.bubblews.com/news/301260-processing-a-

water-hyacinth-crafts

Geography

The scientific names of aquatic plants are usually based from their

locations. For example, Damasonium californicum, which are perennial flower

plants originated from wet environments in the western United States

(particularly, in California).

Mathematics

A mathematical model of submersed/submerged aquatic plant growth

and decomposition was developed for use with the US Army Corps of Engineers'

one-dimensional reservoir water quality model, CE-QUAL-Rl, under the

Environmental and Water Quality Operational Studies (EWQOS). It has a formula

of x = b * grpamc, where x is the rate of change of mass (g/ day), b as

biomass, g being the gross production rate, r which is the dark respiration rate, pas the photorespiration rate, a pertaining to the grazing rate, m as the non-

predatory mortality rate, and c which is mechanical or chemical harvesting rate.

E-Links

Image of a bag created

from water hyacinths.

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These websites are helpful in finding aquatic plants:

http://www.aquarius-systems.com/Default.aspx

http://saltmarshlife.com/salt-marsh/plants.html http://ccrm.vims.edu/wetlands/teaching_marsh/wetland_plants/high_sa

lt_marsh.html

http://www.gale.cengage.com/pdf/samples/sp731400.pdf

Assessment

A. Modified True or False

Write True if the statement is true and replace the underlined word if it is

False.

_________ 1. Aquatic plants grows and lives in water.

_________ 2. One characteristic of an aquatic plant is that it supports water

pressure._______ 3. Aquatic plants are divided into three groups for managementpurposes.

_______4. Sea plants are semiaquatic plants that exist in soft wetland.

_______ 5.The scientific names of aquatic plants are based from theirgeographical location.

B. Guess That Plant!

Identify the word that is being described by the following statements.

6. These are freshwater plants which are common in the Philippines that

can be used as both a biofuel source and weaved materials.

http://www.aquarius-systems.com/Default.aspxhttp://www.aquarius-systems.com/Default.aspxhttp://saltmarshlife.com/salt-marsh/plants.htmlhttp://saltmarshlife.com/salt-marsh/plants.htmlhttp://ccrm.vims.edu/wetlands/teaching_marsh/wetland_plants/high_salt_marsh.htmlhttp://ccrm.vims.edu/wetlands/teaching_marsh/wetland_plants/high_salt_marsh.htmlhttp://ccrm.vims.edu/wetlands/teaching_marsh/wetland_plants/high_salt_marsh.htmlhttp://ccrm.vims.edu/wetlands/teaching_marsh/wetland_plants/high_salt_marsh.htmlhttp://ccrm.vims.edu/wetlands/teaching_marsh/wetland_plants/high_salt_marsh.htmlhttp://www.gale.cengage.com/pdf/samples/sp731400.pdfhttp://www.gale.cengage.com/pdf/samples/sp731400.pdfhttp://www.gale.cengage.com/pdf/samples/sp731400.pdfhttp://ccrm.vims.edu/wetlands/teaching_marsh/wetland_plants/high_salt_marsh.htmlhttp://ccrm.vims.edu/wetlands/teaching_marsh/wetland_plants/high_salt_marsh.htmlhttp://saltmarshlife.com/salt-marsh/plants.htmlhttp://www.aquarius-systems.com/Default.aspx

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Answer: ___________________________________________________

7. This form of microscopic algae has been harvested for many years and

consumed by humans as a food.

Answer: ___________________________________________________

8. This aquatic plant exists thousand years ago in India, Korea, and China,

and has been widely known as a medicinal plant.

Answer: ___________________________________________________

9. These are types of aquatic plants that can grow sprawling root

foundations in muddy areas.

Answer: ___________________________________________________

10. This aquatic plant can be used as a broomstick. In the Philippines, it is

called as tambo.

Answer: ___________________________________________________