The frog water color (ordinary) is a floating plant that adorns many natural water bodies. Probably everyone had to see him, but few people know his name. This plant can please not only those who went to nature, but also everyone who has their own pond or just an aquarium.
Description of the plant
Many have seen frog water color in nature. The description of this plant will remind many of what it looks like. It is small in size and floats on the surface of water bodies. The plant belongs to the Vodokrasovye family, has many branching roots. To maintain life, it does not need to take root, since it receives nutritional components from the aquatic environment. But in rare cases, for example, when the reservoir dries up, water paint takes root in the soil. The stem of the plant is very short, almost imperceptible. The leaves are small - only 3–6 cm in diameter, rounded, their shape resembles small copies of water lilies. They are assembled in a socket. Each leaf has a notch at the base.
To keep the plant onthe surface of the water, its leaves and roots are "dotted" with air cavities.
Frog water color begins to bloom in the last weeks of June and pleases the eye until the end of the summer season. The flower looks simple but beautiful. It consists of three white petals, which are decorated with a yellow core. Their size is on average 3 cm, but some can reach 4 cm. The flower itself stretches 3-5 cm above the water level.
Life cycle
The plant can be pollinated by insects, but basically watercress reproduces by division (vegetative method). The mother bushes grow side shoots (antennae), on which small rosettes appear. In summer, not far from the coast, you can see whole thickets of common watercress. Young shoots gradually take root and detach from the mother bush.
With the approach of autumn, the frog water color (a photo of the plant can be viewed on this page) forms winter buds, in which there are scaly leaves. Even before the cold weather, they sink to the bottom and remain there until spring. Vodokras itself dies off for the winter, dropping leaves. As soon as the spring heat comes, the buds rise to the surface of the reservoir and open, releasing young leaves. The life cycle repeats again.
How a plant "moves" to other water bodies
It is worth noting that the plant reproduces by seeds very rarely, therefore it is not transferred to other water bodies due to the wind. But, nevertheless, water paint has its own "transport" - these are animals and birds. To "sleeping" plantpreserved until spring, the winter bud secretes sticky mucus. This adhesive allows it to attach itself to the fur of aquatic mammals and to waterfowl that travel from one pond to another.
Where the plant is found
Frog water paint is common in many areas. It grows in Western and Eastern Europe. It also pleases the inhabitants of Asia and Siberia. The plant prefers the surface of quiet backwaters, lakes, ponds and slowly flowing streams.
The benefits and uses of water paint
On those reservoirs where vodokras grows, the life of underwater inhabitants is more comfortable. So, in the thickets, plants can hide and find shelter for small inhabitants. Also, the water itself is cleared of impurities faster, and in hot weather it is not so hot in the pond, since the green “cap” does not allow it to warm up quickly.
In addition, many breed water paint to make their private pond extraordinary. Since the plant is unpretentious, many have adapted to breed it in an aquarium.
It can be noted that water paint does not grow very quickly, therefore it is suitable for keeping even in miniature ponds.
Tips on maintenance and care
Those who have kept this plant in their pond for some time leave useful feedback. Frog water can be planted in a bright or semi-shaded place. To do this, in the summer, a process with roots detached from the mother is lowered into the water. If vodokras is planted in an aquarium, he needsoverhead lighting for at least 12 hours a day. The temperature can be maintained from 20 to 28 degrees. A plant in a pond, on the street, can endure winter if the bud is lowered deeper than the freezing level. But many recommend taking out a few buds and putting them in a jar of water (put silt on the bottom), put in a cool place. With the onset of warm spring days, the contents of the jar must be poured into a pond.
Frog water paint: interesting facts related to the name
In Dahl's dictionary, this plant is referred to as "vodozhila", although almost no one uses this name. Today, the most common option is “frog water paint”. He received such a “name” thanks to the frogs that settle near this waterfowl and love to emerge among its leaves. It can be noted that in Belarus, the “toad is extraordinary” is also known as “sverblyachka”. Most likely, it was actively used in past years, when a person had skin diseases such as itching, rashes, etc.
