There are thousands of rivers, lakes and swamps all over the world, the vegetation of which is impressive in its diversity. Moreover, some plants can exist not only above the surface of the water, but also below it. All freshwater plants are unique, but despite the fact that most of them still tend to grow in certain types of water bodies, there are also varieties that thrive in any fresh water.
An example is the common shamrock, which is a valuable medicinal plant... Its petioles begin to grow directly from the root, with each of them crowned with three large leaves. At the same time, the leaves on the stem itself are completely absent, but its top is crowned with a cluster of small pale pink, almost white flowers, resembling stars in their shape.
The most common plants in freshwater bodies
Plants of fresh water bodies, the names of which are indicated in this article, grow almost everywhere, but they have many individual characteristics. An example is the plants that can be seen almost everywhere there is fresh water - these are reeds, cattails and reeds.
They love to grow in thickets and have many similar features, due to which they are often confused with each other, although they belong to different families. First of all, these are the stems, which are tall and straight in these plants. In some cases, they can even reach 6-9 meters, but this is where their similarity ends. In reeds, there are practically no leaves on the stem; in cattail, the leaves begin to twist in a helical manner from the base. In addition, the cob of cattail is long and velvety, in contrast to the reed, which is characterized by a fluffy panicle.
Practical benefits
For such plants as reeds, cattails and reeds, accelerated growth is characteristic, due to which their number increases so much that they completely capture large areas of water, gradually devastating them. Largely due to the fact that people from ancient times have adapted freshwater plants for various household needs, in particular, for covering roofs, weaving baskets, bags, mats and even ropes, fresh water sources practically never dry up. The remaining plants simply do not have time to absorb all the moisture and dry out the source.
Swampy area
In order to find out which fresh water plants are typical for your area, it is enough to carefully study the sources closest to you. For instance, most widespread in a marshy area has received more than 1000 different types all over the world. Nevertheless, in the structure of each of them there are similar features, among which is a trihedral stem with a dense structure, while long, grooved leaves, pointed towards the end, extend from each face. A similar leaf structure can be observed in most cereals.
The second most common plant and the most similar in appearance to sedge is the rush. It also grows in swamps, however, for this grass, unlike sedge, it is characterized by a round. In addition, due to the fact that the stem of the rush is thinner and branches, the leaves, while retaining a similar structure, are still much narrower than that of sedge and, seeing these two plants side by side, it will be quite difficult to confuse them in the future.
Rivers and lakes
Plants of fresh water bodies, which are characteristic of river and lake areas, are primarily noticeable on the banks. First of all, this is typical for iris flowers, which are outwardly similar to ordinary garden iris. In addition to them, an equally common plakun-grass can grow in the coastal zone, whose purple inflorescences, resembling an ear, immediately catch the eye. Her leaves are similar to willow, but they are characterized by special cracks, thanks to which the excess moisture that the plant absorbs is easily discharged outside.
Poisonous representatives
However, it should be borne in mind that not all plants of fresh water bodies are harmless, because among them there are poisonous representatives, among which the most common are chastoha and arrowhead. Moreover, the appearance of their leaves is directly related to their habitat. In the event that these plants grow submerged in water, the leaves will resemble a ribbon in their shape. If they are located on the surface of the water, then they are held on it with the help of an underwater stem and a special floating plate. In addition, being on the surface, arrowhead leaves acquire the shape of arrows and begin to fully live up to their name. Unlike chastoha, which is completely poisonous, humans have adapted the arrowhead tubers for food.
Plants of freshwater reservoirs, characteristic of swampy areas, are buttercups, also differing in which they can be both floating and located under water. Moreover, despite the fact that they can also be found in other freshwater sources, all buttercups, without exception, are poisonous plants. The most dangerous for humans are:
- poisonous buttercup;
- buttercup-pimple - forms abscesses on the skin.
In addition, one of the most poisonous plants of modern flora - hemlock, which grows exclusively in swampy areas, can be attributed to the category of poisonous plants that are found in freshwater bodies.
The beauty of freshwater plants
Plants of fresh water bodies, photos of which can be seen in this article, continue to amaze with their beauty. For example, seeing in a pond, few will remain indifferent to her grace. Her flowers are large, large.
Opening with sunrise, they only close at sunset. Among the people, the water lily received several names at once, among which the most famous remain white Lily and a water rose. Its leaves, located above the water, are large, large. They are characterized by the presence of a large number of air cavities, but their underwater leaves look like ribbons. Often, in freshwater reservoirs, you can also find an equally beautiful yellow water lily.
Plants and animals in fresh water are unique and need constant protection. Due to constantly changing climatic conditions, some of them are on the verge of extinction, while the rest have significantly reduced their population. The only exception can be considered an amphibian buckwheat, which, if the reservoir dries up, sheds water leaves and grows new ones characteristic of a land plant.
However, in contrast to amphibian buckwheat, one can give an example of pondweed, which grows exclusively at great depths and is a favorite place for laying eggs for most fish. In some import farms, it is brought in specifically in order to significantly increase the fish population.
A person should do his best to maintain the ecological situation of freshwater bodies, reducing harmful emissions not only into water sources, but also into the atmosphere, and also, as far as possible, reduce the population different plantsreducing the moisture content in water bodies and ultimately leading to their complete drainage.
From marine species - sea ruff - scorpion fish, etc. By the way, coral fish, colored to match the surrounding bright coral reefs, also mimic these "hard" thickets.
Another important point is that aquatic plants are a food source for many fish. Of course, we must make allowances for our climate, since in winter the amount of vegetation in many reservoirs is sharply reduced and fish must switch to other types of food. Such fish are called facultative phytophages (goldfish, bream, roach, etc.). For them, vegetation is not the main component of the diet, but a tasty and healthy addition to animal organisms.
Even according to this food criterion alone, one can make a kind of picture of underwater inhabitants. For example, if you find filamentous algae fouling on the coastal stones, then you can count on meeting with podust, temples or roach. When you find planktonic algae in large quantities, then look for silver carp, the same roach and other cyprinids (this is from freshwater) and Pacific sardine (marine species).
In some regions, well-developed higher aquatic vegetation makes it possible to locate grass carp and redfin. And some fish are very fond of the so-called plant detritus (bottom plant accumulations) - these are young lampreys, podustas, khramuli, marinkas, ottomans, etc. By the way, it is very interesting that there are much fewer phytophages among marine fish than among freshwater ones, although in the sea in large quantities highly nutritious and tasty algae grow, which is often included in artificial feeds for breeding fish of many species.
Of course, every medal has a downside. Sometimes higher and lower aquatic plants cause significant harm to water bodies and fish. First of all, this is the bloom of water. Sometimes reservoirs are overgrown with elodea, reed, headhead, lake reeds, cattail, pondweed, horsetail. These plants simply physically displace fish from reservoirs, violate the hydrochemical regime. Recently, this phenomenon has been fought like weeds on land plantations, using mechanical and chemical extermination of weeds. Treatment of reservoirs is often carried out with the help of aviation.
In winter, fish in the middle zone have a very tense situation with oxygen, and not only because of the low temperature. Starting from mid-December, some of the aquatic plants of our reservoirs (pondweed, egg capsules, elodea, water lilies, etc.) have already died off, sink to the bottom in huge quantities and absorb so much oxygen in the process of decay that little remains for the fauna (fish and invertebrates).
Anglers should pay attention to how the aquatic plant relates to the soil. The overwhelming majority of representatives of higher aquatic vegetation take root in the ground. These are rdest, arrowhead, cattail, headhead, reed, horsetail, urut and others. But in reservoirs there are also free-floating (on the surface, sometimes in the water column), as well as plants with floating leaves (pistia, moss-fontinalis, vodokras, marsh flower, buttercup water, aloe-like telescope, one- and three-lobed duckweed, egg capsule, water lily, walnut water and others).
Many aquatic plants have their entire life cycle in the water column. Representatives of this group occupy relatively deep places of the coastal zone, going down to the border where a sufficient amount of sunlight, necessary for plant nutrition, still falls. Of the representatives of this group in our waters, one can most often find water mosses, hornwort, haru, nitella.
The next group - plants, mainly living under water, but pushing flowers into the air. These are pemphigus, urut, rdesta, elodea, buttercup.
The third group consists of plants that raise their leaves to the surface of the water (water lily, buckwheat, duckweed).
And, finally, the fourth group is plants that exhibit above the water surface more or less of their green stems and leaves. This group includes horsetails, cattails, reeds, reeds, etc.
Coastal thickets of aquatic (and near-aquatic) vegetation are surrounded by a wide continuous strip of shores of lakes, ponds and rivers. Only the very open banks of the leeward side of rivers and lakes are devoid of large aquatic plants. As a rule, different types of plants (submerged in water, or with floating leaves and stems, or rising above water) are arranged in separate stripes, grouping mainly depending on the depth and the presence of the current.
Near the shore, there are thickets of iris, broad-leaved cattail, Umbelliferae Umbelliferae, Birchhead, string, calla marsh, reeds, reeds, horsetails, etc., forming a dense bristle above the water surface of narrow, closely standing tall stems and linear leaves. It is inconvenient for large and active fish to be among such "hard" vegetation, since, firstly, it is difficult to turn around, and secondly, the fish are often injured by the sharp edges of sedges, pondweed, etc.
In addition to "hard" aquatic plants, thickets of "soft" aquatic plants are also found in water bodies: pondweed, crested, floating, curly, Elodea canadensis, whorled uruta, and dark green hornwort. Such "soft" thickets are also fraught with danger for fish: juveniles and adults sometimes get entangled in the intricacies of leaves and stems. But on the other hand, near such "soft" thickets, you can always find a huge number of young fish, which, in turn, can be eaten by larger individuals. So if a fisherman notices branched bushes of such plants under water, he can safely expect fish in this place. If we move further, to the central part of the reservoir, we will see that "rigid" vertical plants give way to a number of plants that do not rise above the water level, with the exception of only the flowering period. Their leaves either spread over the water (water lily, arrowhead, etc.), or rise almost to the surface and are perfectly visible through a thin layer of water (elodea, myriophyllum, water mosses, etc.).
Further there are those plants that close close to the bottom, and it is difficult to find them, even leaning over the water. Often, however, overgrown different types go into one another, mixed plant communities arise, and in this regard, mixed biocenoses. In such places, a more diverse species composition of fish is observed. The species composition of thickets of aquatic plants can change significantly over time. This is due to the fact that plants deplete the soil, sucking out the salts they need from it, or release substances harmful to themselves into the soil (the bottom of the reservoir), thereby stopping their further development and perishing. In addition, changing weather and climatic conditions, anthropogenic impact on water bodies, etc., significantly affect the species composition of plants.
The fish of our reservoirs have a positive attitude towards most aquatic plants: sedge, water lily with a capsule, reeds, duckweed, etc. After all, plants are oxygen, food, shelter, and a substrate for eggs. The observed facts of inadequate attitude of fish to seemingly beloved plants can be explained by various reasons. Aquatic plants are very sensitive to environmental pollution, and the poisoning of a reservoir, which is imperceptible to humans, and, consequently, aquatic vegetation, may well be felt by fish.
Tench and carp are very sensitive to the secretions of aquatic plants, so you are unlikely to find these fish in thickets of arrowhead, hornwort or elodea. And other carp fish and pike, on the contrary, are very fond of the smell of arrowhead flowers. Arrowhead flowers have three white rounded petals, and their pedicels contain a whitish milky sap, which attracts fish. After flowering, shoots appear under the water, nodules rich in starch and protein, which carp fish eat with pleasure. By the way, there is 25% more starch in arrowhead tubers than in potato tubers!
 |
Near the coast, along the edge of aquatic vegetation, many small fish like to walk in schools, which in turn are of interest to larger predators (for example, pikes). In heavily overgrown reservoirs, fish are often found at the border of open water and thickets, and if aquatic plants are found only in small islands, then look for fish near them. it general rules, of which, of course, there are exceptions. Let's start with the well-known aquatic plant - the reed. For fish, this is a truly scary plant, but only in windy weather. During the wind, the reed, the stems of which are very hard and resemble large straw, makes a strong crackling, rustling and rustling, which scare the fish away. So there is almost no chance of finding fish in a reservoir among reeds in windy weather. Exceptions are fish with poor hearing - for example, catfish, which in any weather, with any wind, can sit in the dense thickets of this plant. In our reservoirs, reed is found almost everywhere in places with a depth of up to 1.5 m. |
 |
An interesting fact is that the author of the song "The reeds rustled, the trees bent ..." was absolutely botanically illiterate and confused reeds with reeds! It was the reed that made noise, frightening the fish and the "beloved couple", and the reeds hardly make any noise in the wind. Reed is a good water filter, the spongy structure of its stems contributes to the delivery of oxygen to the root areas, at the same time enriching the bottom soil, which favorably affects the growth of other plants and the well-being of benthic fish species. For this reason, reeds are often used in artificial ponds where fish and aquatic plants are grown together. For the same reason, reed beds are often chosen by pike and other fish for laying eggs. In calm weather, among the thickets of reeds, you can find roach, carp, rudd, crucian carp, ide, perch, carp, tench and bream. These fish easily betray their presence among the stems when they make their way through them. Small and medium-sized perches love sparsely growing reeds, and their slow-swimming flocks move back and forth along the edge of the coastal reed beds. Large perch is more likely to be found at the tip of the headlands of dense reed (or reed), protruding into the reservoir, especially if there is sufficient depth at the border of vegetation. |
 |
In contrast to the "loud" reed, fish of many species prefer to be in the thickets of reeds. Dense reeds provide excellent hiding places for prey fish and hunter fish. There are many different invertebrates that feed on carp, carp, crucian carp, bream, juveniles of pike, perch and pike perch, as well as silver bream, ruff, ide, dace and roach. Outwardly, the reed is easily recognizable - a long smooth dark green stem rises above the water surface, on which there are no leaves at all. The top of the reed stem is thinner than the bottom, and the length of the "reed" can exceed 5 m! Botanists attribute the reeds to the sedge family, although outwardly they are not similar. Having broken the stem of the reeds, we will see a porous mass (reminiscent of yellowish foam), permeated with a network of air ducts that release a lot of oxygen into the water, thereby attracting fish and aquatic invertebrates. Reeds usually form dense thickets near the coast. Carp and carp love the juice of freshly cut reeds; By carefully putting a few reed stalks into the water, you can attract these fish to the chosen place. |
 |
Anglers are often confused with reed cattail, or chakan. This is a completely different plant, the cattail has a rigid stem, on which wide and long leaves are located. This beauty is completed by a dark brown velvety ear with ripe seeds. Dried stalks of cattail with a cob are often put in vases at home and then remember the catches. Cattail grows in places with a depth of 1.0-1.5 m. Most often it is found in small swampy water bodies. Young tender tops of cattail leaves eat crucian carp, tench, carp and roach. The leaves of a mature plant become coarse; only cupid feeds on them. But the cattail loves to use as a substrate for laying eggs, the pike, which can be found among both young and old cattails. |
 |
Almost all of our fish avoid thickets of canadian elodea, or, as it is also called, "water plague". Elodea acquired this name because of its ability to completely fill the reservoir, displacing and surviving all living things. Only grass carp willingly eats leaves of elodea, and sometimes you can still find a pike before spawning. |
 |
Aquatic horsetails are plants that form many shoots and are prone to overgrowth. Among them, botanists distinguish several dozen species, but usually we are faced with swamp, silty or riverine. Outwardly, horsetail is a very characteristic plant: it has a cylindrical, rather thin, segmented stem, each segment of which is separated from the neighboring one by a ring of small dentate leaves. Horsetails, like reeds, have hollow stems that store oxygen and enrich water with it. This is especially true for fish in winter, in January - February. But be careful! Usually, the ice over the section of the reservoir where horsetails grow in winter is thin, and the angler runs the risk of swimming in such water. |
 |
Another aquatic plant produces large amounts of oxygen. These are various pondweeds that grow at depths from 2 to 4 m. They cannot stand leaves on the surface of the water, an attentive fisherman can see poorly visible flowers, similar to small spruce cones. All pondweed are perennial plants. They perfectly endure winter in our reservoirs, helping fish to survive oxygen starvation. In some pondweeds, a long rhizome develops in the soil in winter, which gives new shoots in spring. Dead pond shoots are involved in the formation of the bottom silt. Pond fish feed on aquatic mollusks, insects and some fish species. Many fish use these plants as a spawning substrate. One of the most common pondweed - comb - outwardly differs from the rest: its stems are branched, and the leaves are thin and narrow. This pondweed is found in shallow waters, its flexible stems wriggle and sway. Its thickets are often inhabited by schools of fry, which attract hungry adult fish. The next common type is pierced-leaf pond. It is most common in our reservoirs, has long branched stems and rounded leaves, as if strung on the stem (hence the name). By the way, this particular pond is so disliked by the owners of water motor vehicles - the plants are easily screwed onto the propellers of outboard motors and wound onto the oars. The tops of young leaves of almost all types of pondweed are a favorite food for carp, roach, bream, ide, bleak, and carp. In addition to herbivorous fish, many animal-eating fish graze around pondweed, since various invertebrates, insect larvae, mollusks and other aquatic organisms live in the thickets, which are attracted here by the increased oxygen content. |
 |
Another plant popular with our fish is urut. Hydrobotanists distinguish five types of it, among them the most widespread in our reservoirs are Urut spicate and Urut whorled. Uruti spicata grows at depths from 0.3 to 2 m, and whorled urut grows at depths of 3-4 m. Uruti thickets usually grow on silty soils and love water rich in calcium. When the calcium content of the water is high, the leaves of the uruti become covered with a calcareous crust. Urut spikelet is very sensitive to water temperature and less to light. Underwater meadows from uruti play a very important role in the life of the reservoir. In its thickets, large concentrations of small invertebrates are noted, which are food for many inhabitants of the reservoir. Flocks of perch and tench love to pluck the leaves of the plant from invertebrates, and the urut itself is a great addition to the diet for bream, large roach, ide and other fish. In addition, urut serves as a substrate for fish eggs and a refuge for the entire animal population of the reservoir, especially for fry. In many bodies of water, the pike uses the thickets of the uruchi for ambush. |
Water Lily (Water Lily) |
|
 |
The water lily is a floating plant that is often called the "water queen" because it is one of the most beautiful and largest flowers in our strip. These plants belong to the genus of water lilies, or nymphs, which has about 40 plant species. It is sometimes called a water lily. Water lilies are extraordinary plants in many ways. They live in very warm and through freezing water bodies and are distributed almost everywhere: from the forest-tundra to the southern tip of the American continent. These amphibious plants are able to live (give leaves, bloom and bear fruit) both in water and on land (if the water level in the reservoir has dropped significantly). Fish highly value both the aromatic qualities of the water lily (many fish are attracted by the smell of its flowers) and the edible ones. By the way, water lily seeds are spread over long distances by fish and birds. A water lily grows at depths of 2.5-3 m, but now this wonderful plant can be found less and less often in our reservoirs, and it is listed in the Red Book. Thickets of water lilies in closed reservoirs like to visit carp, carp, crucian carp, roach, borer, tench, perch (small), in rivers - rudd, bleak, ide, pike, roach. The diet of carps includes only the youngest tender leaves, as well as the rhizomes of the water lily, which contain a lot of starch, sugar and vegetable protein. Often, thickets of water lilies are scattered in spots along the coastal strip behind the belt of narrow-leaved cattail and lake reeds. An interesting fact is that the water lilies at six o'clock in the morning float to the surface of the water, open their inflorescences, and close strictly at six in the evening and again go under the water. But this only applies to ideal weather, and as soon as bad weather approaches, the flowers of the water lily, regardless of the time, go under the water, or on such days they are not shown at all. For anglers, the absence of water lily flowers on the surface is a clearly visible sign of a change in the weather. |
 |
Many people confuse a white water lily and a yellow water lily. The yellow egg capsule grows at a depth of 2.5-3 m and is a characteristic plant of floodplain water bodies. Carp, roach, crucian carp, carp, bream, pike perch, ruff, tench, bleak, ide, brood, small perch, pike, roach, grass carp and even eel love to visit thickets of egg-pods (artificially launched, on Lake Seliger he chose its thickets) ... The diet of many cyprinids includes only the most delicate young leaves (like a water lily). Older leaves become tough, coarse and unsuitable for food for fish, but tiny snails and small leeches like to settle on the underside of them, which are excellent food. Plants can not only injure fish with their sharp edges, but also harm fish at night or in winter (with short daylight hours) by absorbing oxygen in the dark and releasing carbon dioxide harmful to fish. Plants are characterized by the process of photosynthesis, which consists of two phases. During the day (in the light), plants actively absorb carbon dioxide and emit oxygen in an incomparably larger amount than they consume when breathing, that is, they enrich water with it. In the dark, the absorption of carbon dioxide by plants stops, and they only consume oxygen, which in the water becomes less and less. With the rapid growth of aquatic vegetation and high water temperatures in small lakes, fish may be killed at night, but even if it does not occur, the fish's search for food sharply decreases. With the onset of the light phase, aquatic plants vigorously absorb carbon dioxide and process it into green mass. An intensive release of oxygen begins, and the food activity of the fish is restored. By noon, the process of photosynthesis slows down, oxygen in the water becomes less, and the fish are less active. For this reason, the food activity of fish in the daytime decreases compared to the dawn: the fish is already full. In addition, in winter, at any time of the day under the ice, dead plants rot, absorbing oxygen, especially in stagnant water bodies. It is in these places that the mass death of fish occurs. |
 Duckweed needs no special introduction. Everyone who has been near lakes, ponds or old ditches with water in the summer has seen this plant, dragging the surface of the water with a dense emerald carpet. Several species of duckweed, which are part of the duckweed family, are widespread throughout the world, including in Russia. These are small plants floating on the surface or in the water column, consisting of fronds - leafy stems, fastened by several pieces to each other, from which a single short filiform root departs. At the base of the fronds, there is a lateral pocket in which a tiny inflorescence can develop, consisting of two staminate and one pistillate flowers. In natural reservoirs, duckweed rarely bloom. Flowers have a simple structure: staminate flowers consist of only one stamen, and pistillate flowers have one pistil; there are no petals or sepals in such flowers. During the warm period, the plant reproduces vegetatively, with the help of young fronds separating from the mother plant. Duckweed hibernates in the form of buds, sinking to the bottom together with a dead plant. Three-lobed duckweed grows relatively weakly, lives in the water column and rises to the surface during flowering. Differs in green translucent spoon-shaped fronds 5-10 mm long. The fronds are interconnected for a long time, forming balls that float in the water column and float to the surface during flowering. Duckweed strongly branches and forms on the surface of the water a blanket of small bright green fronds with one root below. Flowers appear very rarely in May-June.
Duckweed mnogorennikovaya, or common duckweed - Lemna polуrhyza \u003d Spirodela polуrhyza The mnogorennik is not found very often in the same water bodies where two types of duckweed abundantly grow. A bunch of reddish or white roots extends from the underside of each stalk, which has a rounded ovoid shape. It rarely blooms in May-June. In polyrootnik, the upper side of the leaf blade is dark green, with well-visible arcuate veins, and the lower side, immersed in water, is violet-purple. The plate is up to 6 mm in diameter. All these types of duckweeds are cold-resistant and light-requiring. They live in reservoirs with stagnant or slowly flowing water. When caring for a reservoir, you have to constantly capture a part of the population or create conditions that are not conducive to rapid growth by purifying the water. Reproduction is mostly vegetative and very fast. Each stem, which looks like a small leaf, buds out from itself rather quickly new and new parts of the stems, which, while still having a connection with the main stems, give rise to new young plants. Species with individuals floating on the surface of the water can completely "tighten" a small body of water in a short time. Humpbacked and multi-rooted duckweed are especially aggressive. These plants are rarely deliberately introduced into the body of water. Most often they get there with the help of birds, frogs, newts and when transplanting other plants. It is difficult to completely get rid of duckweed, but its number can be limited by driving the plants to one place with a net or a stream of water from a garden hose, and then catching it with the same net. The extracted mass can be used for compost and as bird feed. These plants cleanse water bodies of carbon dioxide and supply oxygen, serve as food for fish and protect from sunlight. But despite this, you should never deliberately bring duckweed into a pond, since if it appears in your pond, it will be almost impossible to eradicate it. Be careful also when bringing other plants into the pond - make sure that there is no duckweed on the plant itself and in the water. |
|
Usually there are two types of duckweed Lesser duckweed (L. minor) - see the picture on the left and the three-lobed duckweed (L. trisulca) - see the picture on the right. Lesser duckweed inhabits many water bodies and multiplies extremely quickly. The most common pond plant with flat elliptical fronds 3-4.5 mm long, floating on the surface of the water.
Material taken from the site:
Recently, it has become very fashionable among gardeners to break on the territory of their household plots mini-reservoirs: ponds, lakes, and other waterways. It goes without saying that in this case one cannot do without coastal aquatic vegetation, because it is she who is the main decoration of water bodies. There are many thousands of plant species living in water, but not all of them are suitable for growing in the middle lane. On this page you will find out the names of aquatic flowers and plants of the coastal zone, adapted to our conditions. You can also get acquainted with the description of aquatic plants and see their photos.
Plants of the aquatic environment and the coastal zone of water bodies
Air (ACORUS). Aroid family.
Calamus (Irrigated root) (A. calamus) - rhizome perennial 50-80 cm high with straight xiphoid leaves. Small greenish cobs are not interesting.
The variety "Variegatus" leaves are green with yellowish stripes along the edge (in spring they are pinkish).
Growing conditions. Near water, planting depth 8-20 cm.
Reproduction. By dividing the bush (in spring).
This coastal plant is used to decorate the shores of water bodies.
Watch (MENYANTHES). A family of rotational workers.
Three-leaf watch (M. trifoliata) - a perennial with a thick long, branched rhizome, growing in stagnant water, along the swampy banks of rivers and lakes in the temperate zone of Eurasia. Blue-green trifoliate leaves on long petioles give the plant decorativeness. The flowers of this coastal aquatic plant are white-pink, collected in a dense brush.
Growing conditions.Low shores of reservoirs, shallow waters.
Reproduction.Sections of rhizomes with a bud of renewal (at the end of summer). Planting density -12 pcs. per 1 m2.
Used for the design of reservoirs.
Mertensia (MERTENSIA). Borage family.
Rhizome perennials, mainly grow along the shores of the seas in North America and the Far East, are also found in the middle lane. Leaves are grayish-blue, lanceolate; inflorescence - a curl of bright blue flowers.
Types and varieties:
Mertensia ciliated (M. ciliata) - 4050 cm high.
Mertensia sea (M. maritima)- 10-15 cm high.
Mertensia virginska (M. virginica) - 40 cm high.
Growing conditions. Wet poor sandy soils in full sun.
Reproduction. Seeds (sowing in spring), dividing the bush (in spring). Youngsters, divide and transplant for the 3-4th year. Planting density - 25 pcs. per 1 m2.
Sedge (CAREX). Sedge family.
Perennial rhizome grasses with dense, narrow, like those of cereals, leaves and thin spikelets. Numerous species are widespread throughout the world, but as ornamental plants only a few of them are used.
Types and varieties:
Buhanana's sedge (C. buchananii)- 60 cm high, brownish leaves.
Sedge morrow (C. morrowii), variety "Variegata" - 50 cm high.
Rusty spotted (C. siderosticta)and hairy (C. pillosa)- forest sedges.
Drooping sedge (C. pendula) - up to 100 cm high, near-water.
Growing conditions. This coastal water body plant is planted in areas with any soil and sufficient moisture. Forest sedge species prefer shady areas.
Reproduction. Seeds (sowing in spring) and dividing the bush (late summer). Planting density - 9-12 pcs. per 1 m2.
Cattail (TYPHA). Family of cattails.
This is a coastal aquatic vegetation with a thick creeping rhizome, 100-200 cm high. Leaves at the base of the stem are broad-linear. These are plants growing near the water along the banks of rivers and other reservoirs of the temperate zone of Eurasia, often forming thickets.
Types and varieties:
Broadleaf cattail (T. latijoiia) - height 100-150 cm; Narrow-leaved cattail (T. angustifolia)- height 100-150 cm.
Growing conditions.Wet shores of reservoirs.
Reproduction. By dividing the bush (in spring and late summer).
Huttinia (HOUTTUYNIA). Saururov family.
Huttinia cordate(H. cordata) - A new plant for central Russia, but it is worthy of the difficulties associated with its cultivation. The species itself, which came into cultivation from coastal meadows in the south of the Far East, is rarely grown.
Of interest are the varieties: "Chameleon" - with leaves, along the edge of which are scattered white, yellow, red spots, and "Plena" - with double flowers.
The plant is creeping, quickly forms a thicket 20-50 cm high. It blooms in central Russia rarely and not abundantly.
Growing conditions.Semi-shaded shores of reservoirs with clay soils.
Reproduction. In the spring, a piece of rhizome with a bud of renewal. Planting density - 16 pcs. per 1 m2.
Waterwort (HYDROPHYLLUM). The family of aquifers.
Long-rhizome perennials from the humid forests and meadows of eastern North America with large lobed leaves and a fluffy branched inflorescence of pink-purple flowers. Adapted to Russian conditions, where it lands on the banks of water bodies.
Types and varieties:
Canadian waterwort (H. canadense) - rounded-lobed leaf; Virginia waterwort (H. virginianum) is an elongated-lobed leaf.
Growing conditions. This coastal plant prefers semi-shaded and shaded areas with moist, rich soils.
Reproduction. Sections of rhizomes with a bud of renewal at the end of summer. Planting density - 16 pcs. per 1 m2.
Spleen (CHRYSOSPLENIUM). Family of saxifrage.
The spleen is alternate-leaved (Ch. Alternifolium)- perennial with a fleshy stem, height 5-15 cm, leaves in a basal rosette are light green, thickened, rounded-bundle-shaped; inflorescence is flat, corymbose, golden-green flowers. They form thickets in damp, shady places.
Growing conditions.Semi-shady places near water bodies, in relief depressions.
Reproduction. Seeds (sowing in autumn), dividing the bush (summer). Weed on wet soils. Planting density - 36 pcs. per 1 m2.
They are used only in areas that mimic natural thickets. Unstable decorative, good only in early spring.
Coastal aquatic vegetation: plants living in the water and on the shore
This section presents photos of aquatic plants with names and descriptions suitable for growing in shallow fresh water bodies and along their banks.
Calla (calla). Aroid family.
Marsh calla (C. palustris) - rhizome perennial growing along the banks of water bodies in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere. Basal leaves on long petioles, cordate, rounded. The flowers are collected in an inflorescence-ear, covered with a white ovoid veil.
Growing conditions. This light and moisture-loving plant is grown both in shallow fresh water bodies and along their banks.
Reproduction. Propagated by seed, sowing in wet soil immediately after harvest. The division of rhizomes is best done at the end of summer. Planting density - 7 pcs. per 1 m2.
Look at the photo:this aquatic plant provides an early spring effect in mixed groups with summer flowering plants; interesting in rockeries, in flower beds, where annuals are then planted.
Sitnik (JUNCUS). Sitnikov family.
Perennial rhizome moisture-loving herbs. Leaves are gramineous, ornamental capitate or paniculate inflorescences.
Types and varieties. C. sharp-flowered (J. acutiflorus) - up to 100 cm high, paniculate inflorescence; from. spreading (J. effusus) - up to 150 cm high, bundle-paniculate inflorescence; from. xiphoid (J. ensifolius) - 20-30 cm high, capitate inflorescence, dark brown; from. gray (J. glaucus) - 60-90 cm high, glaucous leaves.
Growing conditions.Sunny shores of reservoirs at a depth of 0-5 cm.
Reproduction. Sections of rhizomes in spring or late summer.
Buttercup (RANUNCULUS). Buttercup family.
A large genus, the species of which are widely found everywhere, but only a few of the most decorative perennials are used in culture. Among them there are aquatic plants, but more often buttercups grow on the banks of water bodies.
Types and varieties:
Aquatic and semi-aquatic: L. caustic (R. acris), variety "Multiplex", height 50-70 cm, water depth 0-10 cm.
Buttercup water (R. aquatilis) - water depth 40-100 cm; l. long-leaved(R. lingua) - depth 0-20 cm, variety Grandiflora ".
Cappadocian buttercup (R. cappadocicus) - from the forests of the Caucasus, stably decorative, forms thickets.
Growing conditions. Water bodies - in reservoirs with stagnant water and in shallow water; l. Cappadocian - in the shade.
Reproduction. By dividing the bush (in spring). Planting density - 25 pcs. per 1 m2.
Syt (CYPERUS). Sedge family.
Galingale (C. longus) - a long-rhizome perennial growing along the banks and in shallow waters (depth up to 20 cm) of stagnant and slowly flowing waters. If we talk about which aquatic plants are most common in central Russia, then feeding is mentioned most often. Its tall (60-120 cm) leafy stem rises above the water, carrying out an openwork umbrella with long (10-40 cm) "rays" carrying a bunch of small brownish spikelets. Stably decorative. Forms loose thickets.
Growing conditions.Reservoirs.
Reproduction.Sections of rhizomes with renewal bud (late summer).
Reed (PHRAGMITES). Family of bluegrass (cereals).
Common reed (P. communis) - long-rooted tall grass (150-200 cm), forming thickets along the banks and shallow water of reservoirs.
Growing conditions. Sunny and semi-shaded areas with wet soils, low banks of water bodies. This coastal plant can also be grown in shallow water.
Reproduction.Sections of rhizomes with a bud of renewal (spring, late summer). Planting density - 5 pcs. per 1 m2.
Perennial aquatic flowers and ornamental herbaceous plants
Water flowers and plants are a real decoration of reservoirs. But no less interesting are herbaceous aquatic plants, attracting attention with their rich greenery.
Arrowhead (SAGITTARIA). A family of chastukhovs.
These are aquatic flowers, which are rhizome perennials, rooted at a depth of 10-50 cm. The leaf is dark green, shiny, dense. The flowers in the inflorescence are a sparse raceme.
Types and varieties:
Arrowhead Broadleaf (S. LatifoLia) - height 50-70 cm, flowers with a yellow center; arrowhead arrowhead (S. sagittifoLia) - height 30-50 cm, flowers with a red center.
Growing conditions. Landing in reservoirs with stagnant or slowly flowing water to a depth of 10-50 cm.
Reproduction.Seeds (sowing in containers in spring with subsequent planting in water).
Chastukha (ALISMA). Family of chastukha.
Perennial aquatic plant with beautiful ribbed leaves on long petioles. Bloom all summer. The flowers are small, with three petals, arranged in whorls.
Types and varieties:
Plantain chastuha (A. plantagoaquatica)- pink flowers; small-flowered chastuha (A. parviflora) - white flowers.
Growing conditions.These plants live in an aquatic environment in the shallow waters of natural bodies of water. Planting depth 5-10 cm.
Reproduction. By dividing the bush (in summer) or by seeds (in spring).
Wetland plants growing near water
Kaluzhnitsa (CALTHA). Buttercup family.
Marsh marigold(C. palustris) Is a perennial wetland plant with a short rhizome. Basal leaves are whole, rounded, bright green, shiny. The flowers are bright yellow, as if varnished. Abundant sperm in July-August. More often in gardens they grow a terry form of this species - marsh marigold "Multiplex".
Growing conditions.Sunny places with clayey soils that retain water well.
Reproduction. By dividing the bush at the end of summer. The bush grows slowly, so the division is carried out after 6-7 years. Propagated by freshly harvested seeds, they germinate the next spring, but the seedlings bloom in the 5-6th year. Planting density - 9 pcs. per 1 m2.
An excellent plant for decorating the banks of reservoirs and in flower beds of the "natural garden" type, imitating wet meadows. Here the marigold is planted together with the loosestrife, drooping sedge, the highlander crayfish neck, swimsuits, etc.
Reed (SCIRPUS). Sedge family.
Bulrush (S. lacustris)- a perennial with a thick creeping rhizome 100-120 cm high, growing along the shores of water bodies in Europe and North America. The inflorescence is paniculate, the leaves are subulate.
Growing conditions. Wet low places along the banks of reservoirs.
Reproduction. By dividing the bush (in spring and late summer), by seeds (sowing before winter).
Marsh flower (NYMPHOIDES). A family of shift workers.
Bogweed shchitolisty (N. peltata)- an aquatic perennial with a rhizome, rounded shiny leaves on long petioles and numerous flowers emerging from the leaf axils. The name of this aquatic plant speaks for itself - it prefers exclusively marshland.
Growing conditions. Reservoirs with stagnant or slowly flowing water, depth 20-100 cm.
Reproduction. Seeds (in the ground under water), dividing the bush.
Used when decorating reservoirs.
Floating aquatic flowering and herbaceous plants
Vodokras (HYDROCHARIS). Vodokrasov family.
Vodokras ordinary (H. morsusranae) - a floating aquatic plant of standing or slowly flowing waters with developed shoots and rounded dense dark green leaves in rosettes on long petioles and white 15-30 cm, flowering all summer.
Growing conditions. An aquatic plant.
Reproduction. Seeds, rosettes of leaves.
Used in reservoirs.
Water walnut (TRAPA). Family of water nuts.
Common water walnut (T. natans)- annual aquatic herbaceous plantsgrowing in slowly flowing waters. There are filamentous underwater leaves and a beautiful rosette of floating leaves.
Growing conditions... Reservoirs.
Reproduction.Seeds (nuts) in the fall to the bottom of the reservoir.
Used to decorate natural reservoirs.
Egg capsule (NUPHAR). Water lily family.
Yellow capsule(N. iutea) Is a perennial aquatic flowering plant with a fleshy underwater rhizome and wide, dense leathery leaves above the water. A large waxy flower appears above them in June. The name of these aquatic flowers is quite justified - the flower really resembles a pod. It is widely distributed in natural water bodies of the temperate zone.
Growing conditions. Ponds, lakes with stagnant or slowly flowing water, at a depth of 30-80 cm.
Reproduction. Seeds (sowing freshly harvested), segments of rhizomes with a bud of renewal (at the end of summer). Planting density - 12 pcs. per 1 m2.
Water Lily (NYMPHAEA). Water lily family.
The genus includes about 30 species of aquatic plants growing in water bodies of the temperate and tropical zones.
Types and varieties.In the reservoirs of central Russia grows K. white (N. alba) - rhizome perennial with rounded unequal leaves floating on the surface of the water on long petioles. The leaves are green above, reddish below.
Look at the photo of these aquatic flowers - they are all large, mostly white. They have a pronounced aroma.
Numerous varieties available to. hybrid (N. xhybrida):
Gladstoniana, Fire Opal
Hollandia, Rose Arey and etc.
Growing conditions.These aquatic flowering plants prefer reservoirs with stagnant or slow-flowing water and grow at a depth of 30-100 cm.
Reproduction.Seeds (in the fall to the bottom of the reservoir), segments of rhizomes with a bud of renewal (at the end of summer in the ground of the reservoir). Planting density - 12 pcs. per 1 m2.
These ornamental aquatic plants are used to decorate ponds.
Aquatic plants of the coastal zone of the pond, growing in the water and on the shore
Susak (BUTOMUS). Susakov family.
Susak umbrella (B. umbellatus) - grows in water bodies of Europe and Asia. Height 60-100 cm. It is a common aquatic plant of ponds and lakes (reservoirs with stagnant water) with long linear-triangular leaves and a large terminal umbellate inflorescence of pink large flowers.
Growing conditions. It is a plant that grows both in the water and on the shore.
Reproduction. Sections of rhizomes in spring and late summer.
Mannik (GLYCERIA). The bluegrass family.
Mannik the greatest (G. maxima)- a tall (70-100 cm) perennial with a long creeping rhizome, forms thickets in coastal waters at a depth of 0-10 cm. Leaves are wide, with white stripes, blooms in July-August. Spreading panicle. Mannik is a plant that grows in the water of ponds and lakes, as well as in flooded meadows and near streams.
Growing conditions. Sunny and semi-shaded shores of reservoirs. It is also possible to plant lengthwise at a depth of 10 cm.
Reproduction. This plant of the coastal zone of the pond and shallow water reproduces by segments of rhizomes with a bud of renewal at the end of summer.
It is not difficult to make it, a beginner summer resident who is concerned not only with tomatoes, but also with the development of the landscape design of his estate, will quite cope with this matter.
But digging a reservoir is not the main thing - it still needs to be decorated with plants, so that not only the water surface pleases your eyes, but also a variety of flowers adorn the pond and its shores.
Not every plant you like will be able to grow in an artificial reservoir. In order for real harmony to occur in the water, all the inhabitants of the water depth or the coastal strip should like each other, and not cause a feeling of hostility or even enmity.
PLANTS OF WATER
The most popular plant that can live in a reservoir is considered water lily or a water lily. There are a lot of varieties of this flower, so you need to very carefully choose the one that is suitable for your conditions. The main guidelines for buying water lilies should be the temperature of the reservoir (about 20-25 degrees) and the average depth (should not exceed 40-50 cm so that the roots can catch on the bottom). Water lilies prevent standing water from blooming, and also cover part of the pond from the scorching summer sun.
Another plant that will easily take root in any artificial reservoir is vodokras. It is distinguished by snow-white, which lie beautifully on the surface of the water. The total height of the flower itself is relatively small - up to 5 cm, but the water colors bloom all summer.
An ornamental plant for a pond can be considered a duckweed, which is particularly unpretentious. But you need to be very careful with it: duckweed in a short period of time is able to fill the entire reservoir with itself, depriving it of its grooming. It is best to choose the duckweed of the tricotyledonous family, which grows more slowly. Therefore, you don't have to worry about spreading it too quickly.
As for the coastal flora of the reservoir, you can plant buttercups or sedges. All these plants look great against the background of water.
You can also opt for the unpretentious marsh marigold. Its height does not exceed half a meter, and already in April the first sunny yellow flowers appear.
The pontederia is especially beautiful, the large leaves of which, with their pleasant shine, seem to enliven the coastal zone of the reservoir. She also has flowers that dilute greenery with delicate blue spots throughout the summer. Another feature of pontederia is its exceptional frost resistance.
The water iris is perfect for planting near the shore. This plant loves moist soil.
Designers have long recognized calamus as the most versatile coastal plant. Calamus begins to grow in spring and is able to cover the already faded bushes of a marsh marigold or an umbrella susak, adding neatness and grooming, and without much effort on the part of a person.
If the volume of the reservoir allows, then large-sized calamus can be planted. In addition to decorative functions, it also has medicinal propertiesthat can always come in handy. But for small ponds, it is better to use a grass-like calamus. His short stature and compact size will fit perfectly into the overall picture of the area.
To bring the biological balance of the ecosystem back to normal, you just need to plant a hornwort. This plant has the ability to saturate water with oxygen, therefore it is also called an oxygen generator. It is almost impossible to notice the hornwort from the outside, as it grows completely in water. It has no roots, so there is no need to be afraid that it will grow strongly and displace other plants. In its shape, the hornwort will resemble a thick brush, but it will not take up much space.
Of course, you shouldn't place it on all plants at once. You need to choose the ones that you like the most. Still, the main advantage of an artificial reservoir on the site is water surface and freshness, so plants should not occupy more than a third of its surface.
An ordinary, unremarkable pond can be turned into a picturesque oasis - a piece of paradise that attracts the attention of all your friends. This will help you aquatic plants for an artificial pond, which are able to live and develop exclusively in water bodies. Depending on the depth of growth, they are divided into deep-water, underwater and floating. We suggest that you understand a little about each of these types so that you can confidently find out which is right for you.
Luxurious plants for the pond - nymphs
Rooting of these specimens occurs at the bottom of the pond, that is, the roots are in the ground, and the leaves and flowers protrude a short distance above the water or lie on its surface. As a rule, deep-sea plants have unusually decorative flowers and wide leaves, which not only decorate the reservoir, but also create a shadow on the surface, preventing overheating of the water and the reproduction of unwanted algae in it.
The brightest representatives of this group are nymphs, they are also water lilies or water lilies. Thanks to the work of breeders, there are currently more than 35 species of nymphs. Their beautiful flowers can be of various shades of red, yellow, blue, white. Their sizes, too, depending on the species, are different, ranging from 2.5 cm in the Dwarf Water Lily to 15 cm in the Snow-White Water Lily. There are varieties designed for shallow water bodies and deep, large and small - all this must be taken into account when purchasing these plants.
Another frequent inhabitants of fresh water bodies are egg capsules, which are relatives of the nymphs and belong to the same water lily family with them. These aquatic plants for a decorative pond, of course, look simpler than water lilies, but they are also easier to care for. The dark yellow flowers of the capsule and its floating flat leaves will grow rapidly under suitable conditions and fill most of the pond surface. Many varieties of egg-pods allow you to choose plants with flowers from 3 to 8 cm. The dwarf egg-pod is especially popular among the owners of artificial reservoirs.
The aponogeton two-headed aponogeton, which has dark green leaves and white flowers that adorn the plant throughout the summer, has long become a traditional plant for the reservoirs of the middle lane. A stem with snow-white flowers grows from a tuber planted at a depth of 30-60 cm from the surface of the water. Aquatic plants rarely have a scent, but aponogeton two-haired has one and resembles the sweet scent of vanilla.
In a man-made pond, such plants as shield-leaved marsh flower, brazenia will look great. A thermophilic lotus can become an incredible decoration of a reservoir, however, unfortunately, it will not take root in the middle lane, since it is an inhabitant of exclusively southern regions.
Floating plants for the pond
Unlike deep-sea representatives, floating plants are not rooted in the bottom soil. Their root system is in the water, from where the supply of nutrients comes, and the rosette of leaves floats on the surface. These are a kind of natural filters that purify water from impurities and make it crystal clear.
This is primarily due to the fact that small leaves covering water surface, significantly reduce the flow of light into the depths, and, therefore, make it impossible for the reproduction of blue-green algae. Also, filamentous roots pull mineral salts out of the water, depriving algae of nutrition. In addition to the fact that floating plants bring undeniable benefits to the reservoir, many of them also bloom, giving the reservoir an incredible charm.
It is such a plant, the beauty of which is already inherent in its name, is vodokras. Its small snow-white flowers with a yellow center will open throughout the summer. For shallow artificial reservoirs, this plant is a godsend, since it is not afraid high temperatures and blooms especially intensively in warm water in hot summer conditions.
Decorating a pond with aloe-like leaves - telorez
For large ponds located in the shade, another floating plant is more suitable - a telores with unusual aloe-like leaves. Delicate white flowers complete the decorative look of this unusual plant. If you settle the telorez in a deep reservoir, then you will not need to worry about its wintering - the plant will sink to the bottom when cold weather comes, and in spring it will rise to the surface again.
Artificial Pond Plants - Water Hyacinths
If you get a polluted reservoir that should be cleaned up in a short time, release water hyacinth or eichornia there. Its roots are capable of processing organic pollution at a high speed, which is a kind of food for this plant. Well, its decoration is large flowers that resemble inflorescences of hyacinths, quickly filling the entire reservoir with a colorful purple carpet.
Underwater plants
These representatives of aquatic plants are called oxygen generators, since they enrich the water in which they live with oxygen. Many underwater species absorb mineral salts by their roots, inhibiting the spread of blue-green algae and helping to soften the water. In addition, oxygen generators process fish waste, thus further purifying the water. The most common representatives of this group are: swamp, urut, turcha, elodea, hornwort.
Underwater plants for a decorative pond - urut
Planting aquatic plants
So, the aquatic plants for the pond have been selected - it's time to start planting them. If everything is simple with floating species - it is enough to release them into a reservoir, where they will take care of themselves, then with plants rooting in the ground, everything is more difficult. They need to be planted. This can be done in two ways: rooting at the bottom or in a basket filled with soil. If your pond is deep enough, and the plants are winter-hardy, then you can plant them directly on the bottom of the pond, in all other cases, planting in baskets is preferable. In this case, with the onset of cold weather, you can easily raise the plants to the surface and spend the winter in warmer conditions.
When choosing a soil for aquatic plants, it is best to stick to heavy loam - this medium is the most suitable. Commercial mixtures are not suitable for these purposes, as they are too light and insufficiently nutritious.
Baskets with planted plants should be placed at the bottom of the pond at the rate of no more than two per 1 m 2 of area - so the leaves and flowers will not be cramped in your pond.
It is best to start transforming the pond in the spring - it is then that the survival of plants is most likely. In addition, the time for flowering is approaching. Seeing at least once the flowers of luxurious nymphs and charming egg-pods, you can no longer refuse them, because with them your pond will become a real work of landscape art.
