Incredibly beautiful, multifaceted and amazing underwater world. The plants that live here can be very different. And all of them make a certain contribution to the formation of the ecosystem. Often, it is thanks to them that other living beings (including humans!) Can live and successfully go about their business. Therefore, it will be very interesting to tell more about underwater plants.
Where do they grow
Few people think, but algae live almost everywhere where there is water - from small streams and swamps to vast oceans. Some species thrive in fresh water, while others prefer s alt water.
But still, the most densely populated shallow waters, as well as areas off the coast. Algae growing here get the most benefits. On the one hand, there is enough sunlight needed for photosynthesis. On the other hand, the water warms up well and all living organisms, from tiny unicellular organisms to fish, act as actively as possible, releasing the carbon dioxide necessary for algae. With all this, it is possible to gain a foothold in the soil, obtaining from it substances important for the successful development. However, it's worthtake into account that not all aquatic plants take advantage of this opportunity. Many people prefer either to live on the surface of the water, or just drifting in the thickness, never in their lives contacting the bottom, and even less trying to gain a foothold in it.
The size of algae also varies greatly. Some cannot be seen without a microscope, while others can be tens of meters long. And all these underwater plants have names and detailed descriptions compiled by experienced biologists. Of course, it is simply impossible to talk about everyone - even the simplest algae deserves to be written about in a book. By the way, such an event actually took place in history. For example, connoisseurs are familiar with Konstantin Balmont's book "Underwater Plants". Of course, here he considered algae from the point of view of a poet, and not a biologist. But such attention already speaks volumes.
Main groups of algae
In general, there are many systems that provide for the division of plants of the underwater world into groups. It would be difficult to list everything. Therefore, we will focus on one of the simplest. It provides for the division of algae according to the place of growth:
- Coastal. They grow in coastal areas, at shallow depths. Only the lower part of the plant is under water, while most of it is located above the water. These include reeds, reeds, cattails, horsetails, arrowheads.
- Water. Algae, which are not even fixed on the bottom, preferring to spend their whole lives in the water column, either rising or falling,traveling with the current. These are hornwort, nitella, water moss, hara and others.
- Floating. Plants that live only in water, but at the same time stay exclusively on the surface. Some have a powerful root system, while others are practically devoid of it. Of course, they are not fixed in the ground, absorbing the necessary substances directly from the water. This group includes pistia, water buttercup, water chestnut, water paint, duckweed, marsh flower and a number of others.
- Submerged (they are deep-sea). Algae that take root in the soil with the help of long roots, but at the same time exposing their main part to the surface. Listing them, first of all it is worth mentioning the lotus, water lily, capsules, orontium.
As you can see, even such a simple system is rather ambiguous - it is not always possible to say exactly which group this or that underwater plant of the ocean, river or tiny stream belongs to. Needless to say, nature is fraught with many amazing mysteries.
How to tell about everything? Perhaps this is simply impossible. Even if you describe underwater plants as briefly as possible, indicating names and photos, you will have to compile a whole book. Therefore, we limit ourselves to just a few. Some are simply of particular interest, breaking out of the standard range. And others are most often found in our country, so every lover of plants and wildlife in general should know about them. And of course, when describing underwater plants, we will attach photos so that the reader can get a more reliable impression of them.
Elodea
Outwardly quite a simple plant. IsIt is a long stem covered on four sides with small, narrow leaves - the size is approximately 10x3 millimeters. The color is green, although the shade can vary greatly - from light green to brown-green. First of all, it depends on the illumination of the place where Elodea grows, as well as the composition of water and soil.
The root system is not too powerful, but still, usually the plant takes root in the ground, feeling great in almost any conditions. Reaches quite a long length - 2 meters is far from the limit.
In general, Elodea is native to North America, specifically Canada. It is to this circumstance that the plant owes its official name - Canadian elodea It came to Europe relatively recently - less than two centuries ago. Ireland became the first country - it was here that Elodea was brought in 1836. It was brought to our country half a century later - approximately in the 80s of the nineteenth century.
The main interest is the amazing growth rate. Once in a new reservoir, elodea begins to grow assiduously, often crowding out all other algae that occupy the same niche as elodea. It is thanks to this that it received another name - water plague. It is not surprising that first brought to St. Petersburg, elodea began to spread rapidly and today it can be seen in Siberia - up to Lake Baikal. Causes a lot of problems in navigation on boats and other small vessels, and also causes some harm to the fishing industry.
But it can be a great choice for a beginneraquarist - by planting an elodea in an aquarium, you can be sure that even a novice amateur will take root.
Hornwort
If we talk about the underwater plants of the lakes and rivers of our country, one cannot but mention the hornwort. Pretty tender, thin, beautiful, but at the same time tenacious seaweed.
The appearance is very exquisite. It has a thin but rather rigid stem. It is covered evenly on all sides with leaves resembling thin needles like pine needles. Three or four leaves grow from one point. There are no roots, but there are special rhizoid branches that may well penetrate the soil. However, the roots are not particularly needed. An interesting feature of the hornwort is the ability to absorb nutrients from the water with the entire surface - leaves, trunk, rhizoid branches.
Flowers are very small, almost invisible - they do not differ in color from leaves and have a size of no more than two to three millimeters. It is not surprising that a person who is not too attentive may decide that the hornwort does not bloom.
Found almost all over the world - from the tropics to the Arctic Circle. However, different types may differ. For example, experts distinguish light green hornwort and dark green. The first grows all year round, as it lives mainly in a warm climate. The second has adapted to the harsh winter, when a thick layer of ice almost does not let light through. By this time, the upper part of the plant becomes thicker and tougher, and the lower part simply dies off. But with the coming of spring"bump" comes to life and continues to grow.
Can grow well at different depths - from 1 meter to 10. Most often it depends on the intensity of lighting. Hornwort does not like excessive light, preferring slightly shaded areas.
Water lily
Of course, when talking about the most beautiful underwater plants, a photo of a water lily cannot be used as an illustration. Perhaps it is inferior to lotuses and some other similar algae. But you can meet it in many reservoirs of Russia - it is simply impossible to take your eyes off this elegant, delicate flower!
On the surface is only a flower (or bud) and leaves. The roots of the plant are firmly fixed in the ground, and the stem connecting the above-water part with the root can reach a length of several meters. The size of the leaves varies considerably - depending on the species and external conditions. But most often it is from 5 to 20 centimeters in diameter. However, sometimes real giants up to half a meter appear. The buds and young leaves are purplish, but later turn green.
Found in almost all countries of the world - from the southern edges of Latin America to the lakes and rivers of the forest-tundra.
Blooms, alas, not for long - for one flower no more than five days. But the water lily grows from May until the first frost. Therefore, she manages to please people several times who saw her with chic flowers - white (or yellow, pink) with surprisingly delicate, exquisite petals and a bright yellow center.
Pistia
A very interesting plant that many aquarists love. It is found in many countries of the world, characterized by a mild, warm climate - it does not tolerate frosts and even frosts. But on the equator and the tropics of Asia, South and North America and Africa, you can see entire plantations of this amazing seaweed.
Leaves with distinct longitudinal veins are collected in graceful rosettes floating on the very surface of water bodies - rivers with a weak current, lakes. The surface is covered with tiny hairs that repel water. Therefore, Pistia always floats on the surface without sinking to the bottom. Sometimes sockets have very impressive dimensions - up to 20 centimeters in diameter. The root system is quite powerful, it is a single stem, from which the thinnest processes extend in different directions. It always floats on the surface of water bodies, often covering it with a solid carpet - Pistia grows and multiplies very quickly.
It's hard to believe that such a beautiful and sophisticated plant is very dangerous for nature. The fact is that under suitable conditions, pistia multiplies very quickly and closes the entire stagnant reservoir. Because of this, the rate of evaporation of moisture increases. So, a few years after the first algae hit, a small lake can simply dry up or simply turn into a swamp. However, this does not detract from the attractiveness of pistia - once seen, a plant connoisseur will surely remember forever.
But it cannot be said that this plant is exclusively harmful. Humans have long found use forhim. For example, in many provinces of China, young leaves are boiled and eaten. Also in some places where pistia is abundant, it is used as a fertilizer (before that, it passes through a compost pit) and a very nutritious feed for pigs. Thanks to its special composition, it can be used in laundry and dishwashing. Juice easily corrodes grease, while not harming people, unlike many washing powders and cleaning products.
Finally, Pistia is also used in medicine. In China, it is used to make medicines for certain skin diseases, in India - for dysentery, and in Malay medicine, it is actively used to treat sexually transmitted diseases.
Pemphigus
Probably every reader has heard of insectivorous plants that do not eat like their normal counterparts, but lead a predatory lifestyle. Because of this, the quite expected question may arise - are there underwater predatory plants? Surprisingly, the answer to this question is yes. Pemphigus is able to catch and eat not only insects, but also small animals, fish.
You can meet her in most regions of the world. The only exceptions are a part of the islands in Oceania - because of their isolation - and Antarctica - for obvious reasons. You can see some species of pemphigus even on the southeast coast of Greenland - an acute one, known for its extremely harsh climate.
The plant is quite tall, but it has absolutely no leaves. It also does not contain chlorophyll and is completely devoid ofroots. This means that it cannot eat in the way familiar to most plants - it has to do only by hunting.
There are a number of bubbles with small holes on the barrel. Inside they have special valves. As soon as the insect flies out of curiosity into this bubble, it touches the sensitive cells and the valve closes the exit. After some time, the victim dies, decomposes and serves as a nutrient medium for the plant.
Cyanobacteria
Now it's worth briefly talking about underwater plants dangerous to humans. Of course, they will not be able to attack a person and eat like a fly. But still, they can pose a certain danger due to other features.
The most dangerous are cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae. This is not one species, but a whole family. Found in fresh and s alt water.
They are not dangerous all the time, but exclusively during the flowering period. Moreover, not even the plants themselves are dangerous, but the substances released during their death. The fact is that after flowering and seed spraying, cyanobacteria die. Moreover, they die massively - and under suitable conditions, they can cover tens of square kilometers of water bodies. When rotting, the alga releases toxic substances that are dangerous to all living things - people, aquatic insects, birds, insects. Moreover, depending on the type, toxins strike at different organs: liver, eyes, lungs, kidneys, nervous system.
Therefore, going to swim in warm lands in an unfamiliarplace, you should be very careful.
Moss balls
It is difficult to unambiguously bring a photo of the most unusual underwater plant in the world. Still, there are quite a lot of them and each is amazing in its own way. But, of course, moss balls are one of them.
They grow in only a few places on the globe: the Black Sea, the Tasman Sea, lakes in Iceland and Japan. As you can see, the list is very limited.
As the name implies, these are completely round plants - of course, not ideal in terms of geometry, but close to those. Soft to the touch, but dense, they resemble a ball of woolen thread - an extremely unusual phenomenon in the plant world.
As studies have shown, a small plant grows starting from the center and further - in all directions. The color is rich green, and the size can vary considerably - usually from 10 to 30 centimeters in diameter! Some experts argue that this indicator depends on age, while others believe that it depends on environmental conditions.
This amazing plant has no root system, stem and leaves. Just a dainty, smooth ball of deep green.
Conclusion
This concludes our article. Now you know more about some algae that grow both in the distant tropics and in the nearest river. Surely this will significantly expand your horizons, making you an even more interesting and erudite interlocutor.
