Aquatic plants are coastal plants. Free-floating (floating) aquatic plants Plants that grow in bodies of water

Along the banks of rivers, lakes, ponds, and reservoirs on coastal, moist soil, coastal plants grow - shrubs, herbaceous plants, forming the vegetation background of reservoirs. Such plants include:

• Swamp swamp;
• Forget-me-not swamp;
• Cane.

Like all green spaces, they enrich the air with oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide, release volatile substances (phytoncides) that absorb pathogenic microbes, and protect water bodies from wind and solar radiation.

Coastal plants are also described in the following articles:

• in the article “” - White Flower;
• in the article “” - Black Elderberry, Red Elderberry, Viburnum;
• in the article “” - Japanese Astilbe, Thunberg Astilbe;
• in the article “” - Siberian Iris, Yellow Iris, Swamp Iris.
• in the article “” - Orange daylily, Yellow daylily, Middendorff daylily, Chemeritsa, Funkia lanceolifolia;
• in the article "" - Volzhanka, Arunkus.

Family Araceae, distributed in Central Europe, Siberia, Japan, China, North America. These are perennial coastal aquatic plants, herbaceous, with a pleasant spicy aroma, the height of which is 50-100 cm. They usually grow in shallow areas of a reservoir, the depth of which is no more than 0.5 m, where they quickly grow and form dense thickets.

Calamus has a thick, creeping, brittle rhizome, the diameter of which is about 3 cm, length - up to 1.5 m. The leaves are beautiful, long, linearly marked, often with a wavy edge, the width of which is 2-2.5 cm, light green colors. The flowers are small, bisexual, greenish-yellow in color, collected in an original inflorescence in the form of a dense spadix of yellowish-green color, the length of which is 6-9 cm.

It reproduces exclusively vegetatively; soils for the growth and development of Calamus can be silty, sandy, clayey, or peat. Calamus can easily tolerate temporary drying out of reservoirs, as well as slight shading. The powerful rhizome of Calamus contains many nutrients, and the leaves contain vitamin C. Therefore, Calamus is a valuable favorite food for muskrats, water rats, moose, and waterfowl. In addition, the rhizome contains essential oils, which is why it is used in the food industry, medicine, and perfumery.

The Poaceae family, distributed in Asia Minor, Iran, Afghanistan, the mountains of India, Pakistan, southern China, America, Central Asia and the Caucasus. This is a perennial herbaceous plant - plants of the coastal zone, in their homeland the height of which reaches 6-8 m, in the conditions of Kyiv - 5.5 m. It grows along the banks of reservoirs and swampy places, resembling bamboo.

Arundo reed has a rather branched thick rhizome containing large renewal buds. From them, in April-May, stems grow, the thickness of which is 4-5 cm. Their very intensive growth is observed in the first two months and continues without stopping until the onset of frost. Stem-embracing lanceolate leaves, 3-5 cm wide, pointed at the apex. In the conditions of Kyiv, the plant does not appear inflorescences, although they are laid and almost completely formed.

Reproduces vegetatively. Arundo Reed prefers soil rich in humus, clay or sandy loam. However, it grows best in meadow soils. Used to create small groups along the banks of reservoirs.

The Belorozaceae family, distributed throughout Russia, except the Arctic. It is coastal, perennial, has a rather thick, vertical root, one or several stems, the height of which is 15-30 cm. The basal leaves are petiolate, heart-shaped-ovate. There is only one sessile leaf on the stem, slightly enclosing the stem. The flowers are solitary, 2-4 cm in diameter, white with dark veins, located at the ends of the stems.

The flowers of these coastal plants of water bodies have 5 short sepals, 5 petals, a thick ovary with four sessile stigmas and 5 pollen-containing stamens. These stamens alternate with sterile stamens that do not have pollen. Insects that carry pollen from one plant to another are attracted to golden-yellow balls that look like drops of honey. They are located on long cilia that surround the plate of the sterile stamen.

However, these golden yellow balls do not contain nectar. Nectar is secreted by small depressions that are located on the plate itself. Belozor Bolotny blooms in July-August. The fruit is a capsule, the seeds are very small. The plant reproduces by seeds, grows well in clay or sandy loam, wet meadows, swamps, along the banks of rivers, streams, and ponds. The plant attracts attention with its fragile, touching beauty.

The Sedge family, distributed in the European part of Russia, in Siberia. This perennial herbaceous plant, 10-50 cm in height, has a creeping rhizome and a bunch of unbranched green stems. There are one to three scale-like leaves at the base of the stems.

In the absence of leaves, photosynthesis (that is, the capture of solar energy to synthesize organic matter from inorganic) occurs in the stems of this plant. Like most cacti, for example. In addition, the stems of Bolotnaya Bolotnaya contain a large number of air-bearing cavities, through which the air necessary for breathing enters the stems and rhizomes.

The flowers are solitary, collected in inflorescences - spikelets, the length of which is 6-18 mm and are located at the ends of the stems. The plant blooms in May-June. The fruit is an indehiscent, biconvex nut, about 3 mm long. These coastal pond plants are propagated by seeds and vegetatively; they grow well on clay, sandy loam, and moist soils. In swamps, ditches - forms dense thickets; strengthens the banks of reservoirs and is also a valuable feed for livestock.

There is a well-known belief about the Bolotnitsa Bolotnaya. As if at dusk, in the swamp you can see how the stems of the Swampweed begin to get thicker, turning into long, long fingers. And then hands grow out of the swamp and a green old swamp woman appears with eyes burning like red coals. She busily examines her swamp, as if checking to see if there are any beautiful girls lingering, picking berries and flowers. And if he takes one away, he will certainly drag her into his swamp, taking her into his service.

The Poaceae family, distributed in the south of the Primorsky Territory, the Kuril Islands, China and Japan. This is a perennial grass, the height of which is 1-1.5 m. It has a developed underground rhizome. At the end of the growing season, lignification of the straw is observed, which reaches 4-6 mm in diameter. The leaves, 60-90 cm long, are light green. The flowers are collected in thick, fluffy inflorescences.

In the conditions of Ukraine, Miscanthus chinensis does not produce fruits. It propagates vegetatively; the soil must be well-drained and abundantly moist. Grows and develops well in open sunny places. It is recommended to plant this plant along the banks of water bodies.

Family, distributed in the European part of Russia, in Siberia. This is a perennial herbaceous plant. It has creeping rhizomes and erect tetrahedral, pubescent stems, the height of which is 20-60 cm. The leaves are opposite, oblong-elliptic, petiolate, serrate along the edges, like the stems, pubescent. The length of the leaves reaches 7 cm. In the axils of the leaves there are pinkish-lilac flowers with a pleasant delicate aroma. They form rather dense false whorls.

The plant blooms from June to August. The fruit has four nut-shaped lobes that can float on water. Reproduces vegetatively, rarely by seeds. These coastal plants grow well on the banks of rivers, streams, swamps and damp meadows; on wet, floodplain, chernozem soils. It can also grow on clay peat soils. Field mint is used in folk medicine.

Interestingly, in ancient Rome they believed that the delicate aroma of mint created a good mood. Therefore, mint water was sprinkled in the banquet hall, and the tables were rubbed with mint leaves. The author of Natural History, the Roman writer and scientist Plenius the Elder, constantly wore a wreath of fresh mint leaves on his head. I recommended this to my students as well. He believed that the aroma of mint helps improve human mental performance. This custom survived until the Middle Ages.

The Borage family, distributed in the Caucasus, Western Siberia, Western Europe, and North America. This is a perennial ground-blooded, highly branched herbaceous plant. It has a creeping rhizome, ascending shoots, the height of which is 10-30 cm and a straight stem covered with short hairs. The leaves are small, lanceolate, slightly palmate, 3-8 cm long, 1-2 cm wide, as well as the stem, covered with short hairs. The apex of the leaves is obtuse or slightly pointed. When they bloom, these small leaves resemble mouse ears. Leaves are preserved until frost sets in.

The flowers are pink at the beginning of flowering, later bright blue, with a pleasant, delicate aroma. The flowers are collected in inflorescences, which are a rather wide but short curl, and are located at the top of the shoots. The blue corolla of the Forget-me-not flower, whose diameter is 9 mm, has a short, narrow tube, a flat limb and five yellow scales. It is the yellow scales that have become “signal lights” for pollinating insects, which, flying from one flower to another, carry pollen, that is, cross-pollination. The flowering of this plant is quite abundant, beginning in May and lasting until late autumn.

The fruit is black tetrahedral nuts. Forget-me-not Marsh reproduces by seeds and vegetatively. These are semi-shade-tolerant, fairly frost-resistant, moisture-loving plants of the coastal zone, for their good growth and development they require turf soil mixed with sand, rich in humus, and moist soils. In one place the plant can grow up to 5 years. It is recommended to plant it in small groups, forming “blue lawns” in the coastal zone of water bodies.

Preparations from Forget-me-not Marsh are used in folk medicine. This plant is interesting and attractive because it exhibits a classic, harmonious in nature combination of blue and yellow flowers. Apparently, this is why it has become quite popular and is a symbol of true love. There was also a belief. Allegedly, Damascus steel was tempered in the juice of Forget-Me-Nots. After which, the blades could easily cut even iron and whetstone, like butter.

The Cataceae family, distributed in the temperate zone of Eurasia and North America. These are perennial, aerial-aquatic, herbaceous plants. They have a cylindrical, straight, strong stem, the height of which reaches 80-200 cm. The rhizome is thick, branched, two types of roots extend from it. Some are highly branched, thin, which are located in the water and absorb nutrients from it. Others, attaching themselves to the coastal part of the reservoir, absorb nutrients from the soil.

Grows well in silty, sandy or moist, clay soils. It cannot grow on saline soils, and also does not tolerate prolonged drying out. It is recommended to be planted as coastal plants for a pond, to form areas of thickets in the coastal zone of reservoirs. And also for decorating small artificial reservoirs. In the old days, the hollow stems of Cattail were used as pipes. There are varieties of cattails: small cattail, angustifolia cattail.

Long, graceful, sword-shaped, upward-directed leaves, about 2 cm wide, concentrated at the base of the stem. They have helical-twisted leaf blades. The leaf blades, stems, rhizomes and roots of the plant have a complex system of thin air channels through which the air necessary for breathing enters the leaf tissue and underground organs of the plant.

The flowers of Cattail latifolia are located on long stalks. At the top of the stem, cylindrical cobs are collected in dense, brown color with a velvet surface. An ear is a collection of unripe fruits of a plant. Its length is about 30 cm, width - 2.5 cm. The plant blooms in June-July. The fruits are small, single-seeded, spindle-shaped. They have tufts of thin, long hairs. The plant reproduces by seeds and vegetatively.

The Poaceae family is distributed in Russia throughout the country, except the Arctic, as well as in moderately warm countries. This is a perennial grass, the height of which reaches 3-4 m. It has a highly branched, long, knotty, thick, creeping rhizome. The straight stem has numerous leafy nodes up to the apex. After flowering, it becomes woody, acquiring greater strength, while remaining quite flexible.

The flat leaf blades, like all cereals, are dense, hard, quite sharp at the edges, cutting. Inflorescences are dense pyramidal panicles, 20-40 cm long, located at the top of the stem. The inflorescence is reddish-violet at the beginning of flowering, yellow by autumn. The inflorescence consists of many individual spikelets, which contain long hairs sticking out. Therefore, the plant appears fluffy. Blooms annually in June-July.

Since the thick, creeping rhizome occupies quite large areas, fruits are rarely formed in Common Reed. The fruit is a grain that has received from the flower part of the spikelet axis with hairs. The plant reproduces by seeds (rarely) and vegetatively. Soils for growth and development can be silty, sandy, or peaty. Common reed is planted as coastal plants of water bodies for landscaping their coastal zones. In addition, Reed is resistant to water salinity.

Common reed has practical uses: its stems serve as covering for roofs; Various wicker products are made from them, and paper can also be produced. The plant, mowed before flowering, is a favorite food for cows and sheep. Since ancient times, the stems of this plant have been used to make canes.

Seed propagation of coastal plants

propagated by seeds that are dispersed by the wind.

Swamp marsh reproduces by seeds. Unopened fruits are placed in a sieve with small holes and placed in water. After 1-1.5 weeks, the seeds are completely freed from the fruit shells and mucus, that is, they are ready for sowing. In autumn they are sown along the banks of reservoirs. The following year in the spring they emerge and grow quickly, forming dense thickets.

Forget-me-not swamp – seeds are sown in open shady ridges at the end of June – beginning of July. In the first year, a rosette of leaves is formed, in the second - flowering stems.

– it is better to sow seeds in moist, clay soil in spring (April-May). Under natural conditions, the ripened fruits of Cattail, which have tufts of thin, long hairs, are carried by the wind even over long distances. Once in the water, the fruits can float for four days without getting wet, and when they sink to the bottom, they germinate.

– spikelets with hairs after the fruit ripens, are separated from the plant and picked up by the wind, and can be transported over fairly long distances. This is how seed propagation of Reed occurs in nature.

Vegetative propagation of coastal plants

propagated by cuttings of rhizomes. They are immersed in the ground in shallow water to a depth of 20-30 cm. To prevent them from floating to the surface of the reservoir, they are secured with stakes (flyers). Under natural conditions, Calamus reproduction occurs as follows. Pieces breaking off from the fragile rhizome float along the water surface of the reservoir. Other plants may join them. And this floating formation, gradually increasing in volume, can wash ashore, where the plant takes root.

– propagated by parts of rhizomes containing renewal buds, layering and stem cuttings. The optimal time for planting them is spring (April-May). Layerings are plant stems dug in in July-August and rooted. Cuttings are harvested at the end of September - beginning of October from woody stems - straws before the leaves are damaged by frost. For the winter, they are buried in a hole 50-60 cm deep, and in the spring they are planted in a nursery, placed in grooves 10-15 cm deep.

Swampweed, Forget-me-not, Field mint – reproduce in natural conditions using creeping rhizomes. In spring, their rhizomes spread in different directions and quickly grow, forming a thick herbaceous cover. These plants reproduce by dividing the bush in spring and autumn.

Just like the Borets, Aconite capulata, Vodozbor (Orlik, Aquilegia), European bathhouse, Spur (Delphinium, Larkspur), described in the article “”, and you can also learn from it about such plants: Wood anemone, (Forest anemone), European swimsuit, Asian swimsuit, Frying, Chinese swimsuit, Marsh marigold.

propagated by parts of rhizomes containing renewal buds. They are planted in the fall; it is recommended to cover them with leaves for the winter.

– in autumn, sections of the rhizomes of this plant, containing apical buds, or young shoots, are planted in silty or sandy soil to a depth of 10-15 cm.

– propagation of this plant by parts of rhizomes is similar to the propagation of lake reed, described in the article “” in the section “Vegetative propagation of above-water plants.”

If you want to create a green corner in your apartment that has a luxurious and slightly mysterious look, you will need indoor plants that grow in water, that are not afraid of excessive moisture, but prefer it. When selecting such species, pay attention to the origin of the plant; if its natural habitat is wetlands, such a flower will be suitable.

The benefits of moisture-loving flowers for humans

Excessive dry air is harmful to our respiratory organs. Everyone feels this for themselves. The normal level of air humidity in the room will be between 40 and 70%. In winter, dryness becomes critical. Trying to correct the situation, we buy expensive air humidifiers that do not decorate our interior at all. But there is a wonderful way to achieve comfortable humidity in a natural and beautiful way - by growing semi-aquatic or aquatic plants.

Houseplants growing in water have a romantic, fantastic appearance and lush greenery. Such an area with lush greenery, and even in combination with well-chosen photo wallpapers, will create a real tropical kingdom in the apartment.
Any indoor flowers cleanse the atmosphere of the apartment and enrich it with oxygen. True, cacti and other succulents do this to a lesser extent. But tropical swamp plants have powerful photosynthetic activity. All physiological processes occur energetically in them, so they can supply us with oxygen and moisture to the maximum.

Recently, decorating the bathroom with living plants has become popular. Moisture-loving plants are ideal for this purpose. They will grow beautifully here. And while taking a shower or bath, you will feel as if you are on a tropical ocean coast.

Main representatives

This is the most famous and unpretentious of indoor aquatic plants. Its triangular, strong stems, growing in a bunch, end in a lush “fountain” of leaves spreading to the sides. For such a characteristic appearance, Cyperus is often called “palm tree”. In fact, he belongs to the Osokov family. Its homeland is the wetlands of the tropics of Africa. Its closest relative is papyrus. And our pet is often called by a double name: Cyperus-Papyrus. This plant can be grown simply in a container of water. There is never too much water for him. The more it is, the more magnificent it grows. It is usually grown in flowerpots that stand in deep trays that are constantly filled with water.

Calla, or calla lily

The second most popular indoor plant, preferring to grow almost submerged in water. This marsh plant came to us from the subtropical regions of South America. Its charming snow-white blanket surrounding the bright yellow ear of the upward-pointing inflorescence looks solemn and elegant. Pots with calla lilies, like cyperus, feel best when placed in trays filled with water. The popularity of the flower is associated not only with its magical beauty, but also with the significant plasticity of the plant. Calla lilies can also grow in conditions of relative lack of moisture. True, in this case you can’t count on lush flowering.

It is also called water hyacinth. She is also surprisingly unpretentious. The main condition for it is water. In nature, Eichornia grows in the tropical part of South America. However, thanks to its vitality, it now grows successfully in many warm climates around the world, earning it the nickname “water plague.” Eichornia is often used by aquarists, growing it on the surface of the water. It also enjoys well-deserved attention from flower growers. This indoor aquatic plant prefers to grow in wide, but not small, containers of water, which are placed in a warm place with sufficient lighting. Drafts are extremely undesirable. In the summer, when conditions are most favorable for it, Eichornia will delight you with graceful lilac flowers, indeed, reminiscent of hyacinths.

This plant is not distinguished by lush flowering, but its delicate thin thread-like leaves give it a peculiar charm. It is no coincidence that flower growers, touched by its airy appearance, gave it a number of affectionate names: “cuckoo tears”, “graceful isolepis”, “hair grass”. The young leaves of this reed first grow vertically. Gradually, becoming longer, they begin to bend, forming a lush bunch of thin green tubes with silvery lights of small rounded inflorescences at the tips. This allowed flower growers to humorously call this reed “fiber-optic grass.” It is for this reason that the flower looks most impressive in tall flowerpots standing in filled trays.

Many varieties of bamboo, especially low-growing varieties, are excellent for growing in water. But it does relatively well with less moisture. Maybe he can put up with some lack of light. Bamboo is very plastic both in terms of growing conditions and the ability to give it different shapes. It grows quickly, creating fancy bushes. There are a lot of varieties of bamboo; you can choose both low-growing and powerful plants.

This species is completely undemanding to growing conditions. The only thing he needs in large quantities is water. The modest appearance of the plant is not a reason to refuse to grow it in our homes. It perfectly complements compositions with calla lilies or bamboo. It is good to use for decorating a loggia or veranda. And in the summer, pots with calamus can be placed in a decorative pond at the dacha or in the garden. In any place, this plant will delight not only with its bright greenery, but also with a pleasant aroma reminiscent of tangerine.

This is a very showy plant with shiny leaves and flowers in lilac, blue or white. Its homeland is South, Central and North America, from tropical to warm temperate parts. The flower grows in shallow areas of rivers and lakes. Therefore, when cultivating pontederia, it must be planted in water to a depth of about 8 cm. The height of its bushes reaches half a meter. In summer, purple spike-shaped inflorescences appear among the bright heart-shaped leaves. Flowering continues all summer until almost half of autumn. Then the pontederia begins a period of rest, but its luxurious bushes do not lose their attractiveness.

Based on these moisture-loving plants, you can create various compositions that will decorate your home, make it cozier and more comfortable. There is no need to try to buy all of them; just choose three or four types you like. They will delight you all year round. Just don't forget to add water.

Any pond, lake, or river must contain aquatic plants. If we talk about an artificial garden pond, it also needs vegetation, which forms an important part of the biotope and can cover up to 20% of the water surface. For normal development, these plants require illumination of the water surface with direct sunlight for 5-6 hours a day.

Types of aquatic vegetation

Numerous plants of reservoirs perform not only the function of decorating the surface of the water and the coastline. Some types additionally serve protection of aquatic life from overheating, covering the surface of the reservoir with its leaves. Others are a natural filter for purifying water from harmful bacteria and unwanted impurities. In addition, plants are used by the inhabitants of the reservoir as a source of food.

Most of them are perennial, but there are also annual species. According to classification aquatic plants are divided into:

• floating;
• underwater;
• shallow water

Among them, truly aquatic plants can be called those plants that are constantly located in the water column. These are hydrophytes whose roots are fixed in the ground (urut, elodea) and free-floating species without roots - plestophytes (pemphigus, hornwort). The roots of aquatic plants are poorly developed; they receive most of their nutrients through the leaves.

Vegetation living in water is characterized by heterophylly (various leaves), when on the same specimen the leaves differ in their external and internal structure. Underwater leaves are devoid of stomata, those that float on the surface have stomata on the underside of the leaf, and those rising above the surface have stomata on both sides. Some species have adapted to periodic drying up of water bodies (such as arrowhead, chastukha).

Common shallow water species

The presence of plants in water bodies is very important for fish. This is a shelter, a source of oxygen and food for them. Many species of fish require vegetation for reproduction, as eggs are deposited on leaves.

The most common in central Russia near the coast are: river plants:

Where they grow, there is always river fish, fishermen know this well. Schools of small fish love to walk along the river edge, in turn attracting larger predators. Unfortunately, unfavorable environmental conditions affect the condition of water bodies. Toxic substances pass into plants, which also affects the fish population.

Floating and underwater plants

Floating plants do not have attachment to the bottom. They consist of a rosette of leaves and a root lobe attached to them. Reproduction occurs through the formation of daughter rosettes. Plants perfectly filter water, making it clear and clean. This vegetation not only brings benefits, but also decorates the pond. The group of floating plants includes:

1. Duckweed. Unpretentious, easily propagated vegetation. Prefers bodies of water exposed to the sun, with cool water rich in organic matter. If conditions are favorable to it, it quickly covers the water surface with a solid green carpet.
2. Watercolor. It is represented in fresh water bodies by two varieties, only slightly different from each other. It has decorative small leaves similar to water lily leaves. It produces white three-petaled flowers with a yellow center above the surface of the water.
3. Pemphigus. On the territory of Russia it is represented by 8 species. The leaves are completely hidden under water. Decorative are bright yellow flowers that rise above the surface of the reservoir.
4. Water hyacinth (Eichornia). Refers to exotic plants used to decorate a pond. It can exist in a floating or attached state. For eichornia to bloom, it requires elevated temperatures.
5. Pistia. It grows in water bodies and is represented by a single species. Externally, pistia looks like small heads of lettuce. In winter it can be kept in an aquarium. In its homeland in a warm climate it reaches impressive sizes.
6. Rdest. In central Russia, the genus is represented by submerged and floating species. Some varieties of pondweed look very decorative and can tolerate low temperatures, so they are used for landscaping artificial garden ponds.
7. Floating bagel. A rare plant for natural conditions and culture. It has high decorative and economic value. The plant is listed in the Red Book of Russia; in the climate of the middle zone it is grown as an annual. To survive, it requires sufficient heat and nutrients.
8. Azolla (annual aquatic fern). It quickly spreads over the surface of the water, forming a continuous coating resembling a carpet of moss. It is kept in artificial reservoirs as a seasonal plant. In winter, it requires aquarium maintenance.

All floating plants help fight the appearance of blue-green algae in the pond. By covering the water surface with their leaves, duckweed, pistia and other species prevent light from entering the water column, which inhibits the growth of lower plants. Floating species compete with algae for nutrients, absorbing mineral salts from the water with filamentous roots.

Underwater plants are called "oxy-generators" for their powerful ability to produce oxygen. Some species use mineral salts in the water for nutrition, thereby softening it. Aquatic vegetation of this type has a very high reproduction rate.

Representatives of the underwater group:

All of these plants play an important role in the reservoir, serving as food for fish, as well as a refuge for amphibians and fry. This allows you to preserve populations of underwater inhabitants. Oxygen generators play an important role in creating the biobalance of a reservoir by absorbing fish excretions.

Deep water varieties for the pond

Such vegetation takes root at the bottom of the reservoir, and its flowers and leaves are located on the surface of the water surface or rise above it. Since the leaf area is quite large, the water in the pond does not overheat. And significant shading helps maintain water clarity, inhibiting the growth of algae. The most common member of this group is the water lily, which is also called nymphea and water lily. Through the efforts of breeders, winter-hardy hybrids have been developed.

A striking variety of the water lily family can be called the water lily. In addition to yellow and white egg capsules, North American and Japanese species, which have not yet become widespread, are also cultivated in artificial reservoirs. Deep-sea species include Aponogeton bispica and Braseria. Lotus belongs to the same group, but it is suitable only for the southern regions.

In reservoirs, both natural and artificial, you can often find aquatic plants with leaves of various shapes and sizes floating on the surface of the water. Under the rays of the sun, on the water surface of the reservoir, they form a colorful mosaic carpet. Such plants include:

• Water Lily, Nymphea (white water lily);
• The water lily is small, tetrahedral;
• Pondweed is grass-like or variegated;

These, except for Chastukha, Olisma and Euryale frightening, which have thick, massive rhizomes containing highly nutritious substances, grow mainly in frost-free areas of reservoirs. Therefore, they are valuable nutritious food for small animals throughout the year: muskrat, beaver, muskrat, water rat.

In addition, Egg Capsules and Water Lilies take root well at the bottom of reservoirs. The depth of the reservoirs can be judged from the plants growing in them. Thus, Kubyshka takes root at a reservoir depth of up to 2.5 m; water lily - up to 2 m. In artificial reservoirs for growing water lilies, the depth can be 75-100 cm.

The Water Lily family is distributed in water bodies of Asia, Africa, and the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere at a depth of 30-90 cm. It is believed that Water Lilies appeared in water bodies of the earth during the Oligocene period, that is, 25-30 million years ago. This is an aquatic herbaceous plant, has reddish stems, a powerful rhizome, the thickness of which is 5-8 cm, length about 1 m, greenish on top, whitish below.

From the rhizome located at the bottom of the reservoir, the petioles of the leaves and pedicels of the yellow egg capsule grow. In winter, it retains reserves of nutrients necessary for the formation of leaves and flowers of this plant next year. In addition, the rhizome, like other parts of the yellow capsule, has air channels through which the oxygen necessary for respiration enters the underwater organs of the plant.

The leaves of the Yellow Capsule are of two types: underwater - translucent, wavy along the edge, heart-shaped and arrow-shaped. Floating on the water surface are entire leaves of aquatic plants with triangular long petioles of a dark green color, shiny, leathery, dense, 20 cm long.

The single flowers are located on long stalks, are fragrant, and thanks to the nectar, attract numerous six-legged pollinators. Beautiful bright yellow flowers, up to 6 cm in diameter, close at night but remain on the surface of the reservoir. The plant blooms in June-July.

The fruit is a fleshy, multi-seeded, ovoid-conical jug. The yellow capsule propagates by seeds and vegetatively. Grows well on muddy or soil containing a mixture of peat, humus, and clay soil. Plants prefer a well-warmed, sunny location of the reservoir. It should be noted that the Yellow Capsule must be protected, since intensive collection of its beautiful flowers causes great harm to it. Thus, in many reservoirs, the complete disappearance of this colorful plant was observed.

The Water Lily family is distributed in water bodies of the forest zone from the Western to the Eastern regions of Russia at a depth of 0.5-1.5 m. This aquatic herbaceous plant is much smaller in size than the yellow egg capsule, the rhizome of which is about 1 cm. The leaves are emergent, oblong-ovate, floating , rise above the water, rather pubescent below. The leaves are 15 cm long, 11 cm wide. The flowers are small, 2-3 cm in diameter, with golden-yellow petals.

Propagated by seeds and vegetatively. Grows well in soils containing a mixture of peat, humus and clay soil. It is recommended to remove old and excess leaves so that the water surface in the pond is ¾ or 2/3 free. The small egg pod is widespread due to the fact that it grows both in stagnant and slowly flowing waters, and in rivers with fast currents.

Despite the fact that this plant contains toxic substances (alkaloids, nymphaine and nyufarin), many wild animals, such as elk, water rat, muskrat, beaver and even bear and otter, feed on this plant. Waterfowl also like to feast on the seeds of the Little Capsule. In America, Little Capsule is considered a highly nutritious food and protective plant for some valuable fish species.

Family Water lilies, distributed in Europe and the Caucasus. It is believed that Water Lilies appeared in the reservoirs of the Earth much earlier than the Water Lilies, that is, during the Paleocene period (about 60 million years ago). This is a perennial herbaceous stemless plant with a rather thick rhizome lying at the bottom of the reservoir. The rhizome is dark brown in color, covered with the remains of leaf petioles; leaves of aquatic plants floating, on the water surface, large, round-oval, glossy. The leaves are dark green above and reddish-violet below.

The flowers are single, delicate, white, 10-12 cm in diameter with a pleasant subtle aroma, located on long stalks. The flowers have numerous petals, which are directed in different directions, and seem to cover each other. Therefore, the flower itself looks like a white, rather lush rose. The plant blooms from late May to August.

In the morning, at approximately 8 o'clock, this aquatic herbaceous plant releases its flowers onto the water surface, which open under the rays of the sun. At five or six o'clock in the evening, the flowers fold their petals and sink under the water. In rainy and cloudy weather, the flowers of this plant do not rise to the water surface at all.

The fruit of the Water Lily is fleshy, multi-seeded, and has the shape of a wide vessel. The plant reproduces by seeds and vegetatively. The water lily is unpretentious to soils, so its dense thickets are found on silty, clayey, sandy, and peat lands. To grow it in artificial reservoirs, a thick layer of silt or nutritious clay soil is poured onto the bottom.

The plant is not demanding of light, so its thickets can develop well in the shade of tall air-water plants. It is especially worth noting that Water Lily, Nymphea is very sensitive to injury, so you should not pick these beautiful flowers. The plant may die and disappear from water bodies forever.

The Water Lily family is distributed in the forest zone of North-Eastern Europe, Siberia, the Far East and North America. The differences that the aquatic plants have are the small water lily - the floating leaves and flowers (the diameter of which is 4-6 cm) are much smaller than those of the Nymphea water lily, the rhizome is much thinner.

However, the food value of this plant for small animals is great, since it grows precisely in the northern regions where the Nymphaeum water lily cannot grow.

Varieties of water lilies are also known: Water lily pure white (pure white flowers, diameter 6-10 cm); Pink water lily (pink flowers, 10-15 cm in diameter).

The Rogulnikov family, distributed in the south of Europe, the south of Siberia, and the Far East. This annual herbaceous aquatic plant has a long underwater stem, at the lower nodes of which there are thread-like roots that attach the water chestnut to the ground.

The leaves are in a rosette, floating, broadly rhombic, 3-4 cm long, 3-4.5 cm wide, pubescent below. The petioles have an oblong-elliptical swelling filled with air-bearing tissue of varying lengths. This creates good lighting for each sheet.

The flowers are small, white, located one at a time on thin stalks in the axils of the leaves. Flowers develop under water and are carried to the water surface by pedicels that are covered with upward curved hairs. The flowers open in the morning for several hours, close by noon and go under water. The plant blooms in May-June. The fruit is a nut with a conical base and four powerful, oppositely arranged horns. The fruits are well preserved in silt, even for ten years, without losing their viability.

The plant reproduces vegetatively. In order to grow this family of aquatic plants, the silty soil of the reservoir is necessary. Very sensitive to water composition. So, if it contains even one percent of sodium chloride and calcium salts, the plant dies. The fruits of the nut are highly nutritious food for muskrats, river beavers, geese, and ducks.

The local population consumes it as a delicacy. The water chestnut is interesting because sometimes for a while it can turn into: this happens when the water level in a reservoir can rise sharply so much that the stem of the plant cannot reach the bottom of the reservoir. However, if the water in the reservoir subsides or, like a free-floating plant, the water chestnut will float to shallow water, its stem will again take root in the soil of the bottom of the reservoir. Recently, the water chestnut is found less and less every year, therefore it is subject to protection. Listed in the Red Book.

Family Rhododaceae, common in lakes of Western Siberia. This is a rhizomatous, fast-growing plant. It has two types of leaves: floating and underwater. Floating ones are broadly oval, greenish, with a waxy coating, which adhere well to the water surface due to the presence of air-bearing tissue and channels in them.

The underwater leaves of aquatic plants are narrow-lanceolate and quite densely cover the stem submerged in water. They die off long before the plant begins to flower. The flowers are small, pink, collected in spike-shaped inflorescences, rising above the water surface. The plant blooms in June-July.

The fruit is an obovate nut with a short nose. The seeds ripen in late July-August. Propagated by seeds and vegetatively. It is not picky about soils; it grows well on silty, clayey, and sandy soils. Pondweed overwinters floating at the bottom of reservoirs, the depth of which is from 0.5 to 2 m. At this time, “sleeping” buds are formed.

Overwintering buds and rhizomes are highly nutritious food, especially during the ice-covered period, for small animals: muskrat, beaver, water rat. Its dense thickets serve as a good place for spawning of many, including valuable species of fish. The tuberous thickenings of the rhizomes, when baked, can also be used as human food. The peculiarities of this plant are that it enriches the water of the reservoir with oxygen, and can also be used as a good fertilizer.

The Rhododaceae family, distributed in the temperate zone of Eurasia and North America. This is a perennial rhizomatous plant with thin, highly branched stems. There are two types of leaves: underwater and floating. Underwater – numerous, lanceolate, translucent, forming the main vegetative mass. Pondweed is aquatic plants with floating leaves, the shape and structure of which resemble the leaves of floating pondweed.

The flowers are small, inconspicuous, collected in inflorescences - a thick spike. The fruits are spicate, with a short beak. Pondweed, like floating pondweed, overwinters at the bottom of reservoirs. In summer it is the favorite food of all aquatic animals and waterfowl. In winter - for animals in non-frozen areas of reservoirs.

Pondweed is a very variable species of Pondweed. So, when the water level in reservoirs rises, which leads to the deepening of the plant, its floating leaves die. When the reservoir dries out, the plant can take on a terrestrial form with leathery leaves narrowed into petioles.

The Chastukhov family, distributed in the European part of Russia, feeds the Arctic. It is a perennial aquatic plant with a thick, large tuberous rhizome. It has thick, erect stems, much longer than the leaves. Chastukha has two types of leaves: floating and emergent.

Floating - lower, wide-linear, pure green. Above-water - large, ovate or broadly ovate, located on long petioles, also pure green in color. The flowers are small, up to 1 cm in diameter, whitish-pink or pale lilac in color, collected in graceful pyramidal panicles.

The flowers are located on stems whose height is about 0.7 m. The plant blooms in June-August. Propagated by seeds and vegetatively. The plant is poisonous when fresh and harmful to livestock, but when dried, the toxicity disappears. The plant is very decorative; Winter bouquets are made from dry inflorescences. It can also be a beautiful addition to floating plants when decorating ponds.

The Water Lily family, distributed in the Ussuri Region, India, Japan, and China. It is an annual, stemless aquatic plant. The leaves are long-petiolate and arrow-shaped in young plants. At a later time - round-oval, leathery, reaching 130 cm in diameter. The underside of the leaves of aquatic plants is slightly pubescent, violet-purple in color; the upper one is green, bare. It has strongly protruding veins on which numerous spines are located.

The plant is remarkable in that its leaves have numerous protuberances. Air bubbles accumulate under them, thanks to which the floating Euryale plants are held on the surface of the water surface of the reservoir.

The flowers are large, blue-violet in color with a reddish core, located on thin peduncles. Flowers and peduncles are covered with spines, bent down. The plant blooms in the second half of summer. The fruits are round, dark purple in color, weighing up to 200 g, covered with powerful thorns. The seeds are black, spherical, covered with sticky mucus, and ripen in September-October.

Euryale frightening is propagated by seeds. Each year the plant produces abundant, flat, spiny foliage. This original, light-loving plant is sown in reservoirs in the southern regions of the above countries.

Seed propagation of aquatic plants with floating leaves

Egg pods, pondweeds, water lilies, Chastukha, Alisma, Euryale are propagated by seed. The fruits of the egg capsules and spikelets of pondweed, which float on the surface of reservoirs, are collected from the boat by hand at the end of August - beginning of September, tearing them off the pedicels.

Water Lily Fruits , which are under water, are cut off with a hook. The collected fruits and spikelets are placed on the bottom of the boat, covered with damp moss or damp burlap to protect them from drying out. They are then placed in baskets or boxes with holes and placed in water to ripen. After 7-12 days, the seeds of these plants are completely freed from the fruit shells, spikelets, and mucus, that is, they are ready for sowing.

Seeds of Egg Capsules and Water Lilies scattered from a boat or from the shore. They descend onto the muddy soil of a previously surveyed reservoir. The following spring shoots appear, and a year later the plants bloom.

Pondweed seeds are rolled into lumps of clay and lowered into clay soil, the layer of which is 10-15 cm, to a depth of 40-90 cm; for clayey – sand-containing soil, to a depth of 30-90 cm.

Seeds of Chastukha, Alisma sown during the summer in open reservoirs, silty soil to a depth of 7-10 cm.

Euryale Seeds freed from fruit shells and mucus, they are sown in the muddy soil of a reservoir with a depth of up to 1.3 m.

Water chestnut is propagated by its fruits. , one plant of which produces 10-15 fruits. During collection, the fruits are placed in damp moss to protect them from drying out, since dry fruits completely lose their viability. It has been noted that water chestnut fruits can be preserved in silt for up to 10 years, without losing their germination capacity. Water chestnut fruits are planted in shallow, well-warmed by the sun reservoirs with silty soil to a depth of 0.6-1 m.

Vegetative propagation of aquatic plants with floating leaves

By vegetative method, that is, by dividing the rhizomes, Egg Capsules, Water Lilies, Pondweeds, Chastukha, and Alisma are propagated. To do this, the rhizomes of these plants are hooked from the bottom of reservoirs from a boat with a hook and removed to the surface. Then they are cut with a knife into cuttings 20-25 cm long so that each cutting contains buds (“eyes”) and bunches of roots. Having tied a load to the cuttings (it can be gravel, crushed stone, pieces of brick), they are immersed in the water of the reservoir. In this case, the rhizome cuttings should remain on the surface of the soil.

Cuttings of Egg Capsules and Water Lilies planted in the muddy soil of a reservoir to a depth of 0.6-1.2 m. Cuttings of Chastukha and Alisma in artificial reservoirs are planted to a depth of 7-12 cm; in natural ones - to a depth of 15 cm. It should be noted that for planting cuttings of rhizomes of these plants, the western thermal season can be used. However, the optimal time is spring and the first half of summer.

Legends and legends about Eggs and Water Lilies

Legend 1 (about the white water lily). The scientific name of the water lily family (Nymph) is apparently given in honor of the beautiful white-faced young Nymph with a shock of golden hair, living in a forest lake. At night, sinking to the bottom of the lake, she slept peacefully. And in the morning, having risen to the surface of the water, I washed myself with dew from the coastal plants. Her life flowed calmly, surrounded by dryads and naiads in picturesque nature.

But one day, on the shore of the lake, she saw the then young Hercules. Sleep and peace left her, she stopped sinking to the bottom of the lake, meeting her friends - she was still waiting for Hercules to return. But he didn't come anymore. Life was slowly leaving the beautiful Nymph and this legend about the white Water Lily says that she soon turned into a snow-white flower with golden stamens. Every morning the flower opened on the surface of the lake, as if expecting and hoping to see Hercules again.

Legend 2 (about Mermaids and Water Lilies). Apparently, myths about Mermaids appeared among the Slavs because of the ability of water lilies to submerge in water. These pale-faced, slender beauties loved to comb their long, flowing, moon-colored hair on moonlit nights, sitting on stones and stumps on the shore of a forest lake. And when they saw random belated travelers, they caught them and pulled them into their watery kingdom.

Legend 3 (Water lilies - amulets). The water lily (white water lily) was called in ancient times in Rus' Odolen-grass. It was believed that she was capable of protecting people traveling to distant lands. Therefore, a piece of its rhizome was placed in an amulet and worn as an amulet. They also believed that its root should be carried by a shepherd so that his flock would not scatter. There was also a belief: “whoever dislikes you and wants to dry him, give him the root to eat.”

Legend 4 (love story of the Water King and Princess Nymph). Admiring the Egg Capsules and Water Lilies, people created legends about the origin of these amazingly beautiful plants. So, one Italian legend about the Water Lily says......

Among the picturesque hills covered with flowers, in the foothills of the Alps lies a blue, blue lake. During the day, under the rays of the sun, many different species of fish splashed in its water. And when the stars lit up in the sky and the Moon appeared, the lunar path ran across the water surface of the lake; The Water King lived in this lake.

Not far from the lake, on one of the hills, stood a magnificent ancient castle. The beautiful towers, turrets, and spiers of this castle were reflected in the water of this lake. Many generations passed in this castle during the life of the water king. But one day he saw a young, beautiful girl with golden, lush hair, eyes bluer than the waters of a lake, skin whiter than snowy mountains.

It was Nymph - the daughter of the owner of the castle. Seeing her, the Water King felt loneliness for the first time. But how to get closer to it? After all, only a light small cloud of gray fog could he cling to the windows of the castle - this was his real appearance. And he could only inhabit a snag or a dead person. One day he heard that a ball was being prepared in the castle, at which Nymph was supposed to choose a groom.

That day, clinging to the windows of the castle, he watched with longing as the elegant guests who arrived were having fun, dancing - music was playing in the castle. And when dusk came, he saw a strange horseman appear on the road to the castle. He was sitting on a horse, for some reason backwards to front, muttering something indistinctly. True, he was young and handsome, dressed quite elegantly, and his horse was a thoroughbred. When the rider, driving a spur into the horse, made him fly up, the horse threw him to the ground. The young man groaned, but soon fell silent.

The water king felt sorry for this man, he bent over him. And a few moments later a young, handsome Stranger entered the castle hall. The music instantly stopped and there was silence in the hall. And suddenly his ironic, authoritative voice rang out: “why isn’t the music playing?” And the musicians, without even asking permission from the owner of the castle, began to play.

The guests made way for the stranger as he went to invite the Nymph to dance. They danced alone all evening; no one dared to enter the circle. “I’ll show you the whole world,” the Stranger whispered to the charming Nymph. Further, this legend about the Water Lily says that in the morning both disappeared, and no one ever saw them again. And on the blue, blue lake, Egg Caps and Water Lilies began to appear from time to time. Local residents said that it was the Water King and the Nymphs who visited this lake again.

It is known that 2/3 of the surface of our planet is occupied by water spaces. It is not surprising that there were many representatives of the plant world that mastered the aquatic environment and possessed unique biological characteristics for this purpose.

Strictly speaking, only a small group of plants that are constantly in the water column are truly aquatic. Some of them are attached to the bottom by roots (hydrophytes), like elodea (Elodea) or urut (Myriophillum). Others, completely devoid of roots, are in a free-floating state (plestophytes) - hornwort (Ceratophyllum), pemphigus (Utricularia).

Deep-sea plants absorb nutrients to a greater extent through the stems than through the roots, so the stems are branched and their surface is greatly increased. This is clearly observed in the examples of hornwort, uruti, and bladderwort.

In some aquatic plants, a clear dimorphism is observed in the structure of the leaves; underwater and floating ones do not resemble each other in any way. This difference is well expressed in floating pondweed (Potamogeton natans) and, especially, cereal pondweed (Potamogeton gramineus)– their underwater leaves are poorly developed. Needing sunlight, like other flora, many aquatic plants place their main photosynthetic apparatus - leaves - in a floating state on the surface of the water. At the same time, they take root at the bottom and carry the leaves to the surface of the water on long stems, like a water lily (Nimphea) or egg capsule (Nuphar), or they float along with the roots without even touching the ground, such as the frog's watercolor (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae) or marsh turkish (Butomus umbellatus).

The floating leaves of deep-sea plants have one characteristic feature - the stomata on them are located not on the lower, but on the upper side of the leaf - where they come into contact with air and not with water (water lily, water lily, marsh flower, brazenia). The leaves themselves are thick, leathery, covered with a waxy layer to protect them from excess moisture.

The water lily, or nymphea, is rightfully considered the most luxurious and exquisite plant for a pond. In addition to several natural species, there is a wide variety of varieties that decorate the water surface with their blooms for two months. The most winter-hardy of them come from the quadrangular water lily, found in our nature all the way to the Arctic Circle, and overwinter under thick ice. Heat-loving varieties obtained with the participation of tropical water lilies, often larger and more interesting in the color of flowers and foliage, require a frost-free room for wintering.

Many aquatic plants used to decorate garden ponds are representatives of the Russian flora - marsh flower, bladderwort, pondweed, bagel, salvinia, telores, turcha, wolfia, duckweed - they are well adapted to our harsh climatic conditions.

The organs of aquatic plants located in an airless environment experience a constant deficiency of oxygen and carbon dioxide necessary for life. In this regard, most of them have loose ventilation tissue (aerenchyma), which compensates for the lack of air exchange. It is present in the thickened petioles of water lilies (Nymphea), and Eichornia (Eichornia) and chilima (Trapa) also acts as a float and promotes their mobility. For the same reason, the stems of many aquatic plants are hollow.

All aquatic plants used today to decorate garden ponds came to us from nature, where they mastered completely different ecological niches - from small puddles and small streams to huge lakes and rivers. Understanding the ecological differences between wet habitats provides keys to successfully growing plants - from planting site selection and soil conditions to management principles.

Artificially created garden ponds, as a rule, have a controlled inflow and outflow of water. In nature, standing and flowing reservoirs create different conditions for plants. Plants with long stems are not found in large lakes due to the great depth, but grow in small ponds, regardless of depth.

Large leaves are found on plants that live in stagnant or slow-flowing waters, for example, yellow egg capsule (Nuphar lutea), knotweed amphibian (Polygonum amphibium). In flowing bodies of water (rivers, streams, springs), plants must withstand mechanical loads created by the flow, so they usually have medium-sized foliage. Some plants that prefer cold spring water do not take root well in heated garden ponds. And underwater plants of streams and springs, where water near the surface has constant contact with air, do not tolerate the oxygen-poor water of stagnant bodies of water.

The most reliable assortment of aquatic plants for temperate climates is the local natural flora. Among them is the quadrangular water lily (Nymphaea tetragona), bogweed (Nymphoides peltata), amphibious knotweed (Polygonum amphibium), float bagel (Trapa natans), telores aloeides (Stratiotes aloides), salvinia floating (Salvinia natans). They alone may be enough to decorate a pond.

However, more heat-loving plants can also diversify the flora of a garden pond. When acquiring non-winter-hardy species, you need to think about wintering them. Heat-loving hybrid water lilies are placed in a cool basement, covered with sphagnum moss.

Plants such as salvinia aurica can overwinter in an aquarium. (Salvinia auriculata), azolla carolina (Azolla caroliniana), pistia lamina (Pistia stratiotes), Eichornia pachypodina (Eichhornia crassipes).

It is worth mentioning separately about mini-reservoirs arranged in containers. It is in them that some exotic plants living in aquariums are most often used.

For all those who cannot afford the luxury of having a garden pond, even a miniature pond with 3-5 species of plants will bring a lot of joy and become an interesting garden object.

Photo: Maxim Minin, Rita Brilliantova