What are hydrophytes ? Briefly discuss the different kinds of hydrophytes with example.

Explanation

Hydrophytes are the plants which grow in water or in very wet places. According to their relation to water and air hydrophytes are classified into five categories. They are.
1. Free floating Hydrophytes : They float freely on the surface of the water and have no contact with.soil.
E.g.: Pistia, Eichhornia, Wolffia, Salvinia, Azolla.
2. Rooted hydrophytes with floating leaves : They are attached to the muddy soil by roots.
Their leaves have long petioles which keep them floating on the surface of water.
E.g. : Nymphaea, Nelumbo and Victoria regia .
3. Submerged suspended hydrophytes : They are completely submerged and suspended in water, but not rooted in the mud and have no contact with air.
E.g : Hydrilla, Ceratophyllum, Utricularia and Najas.
4. Submerged rooted hydrophytes : These plants are completely submerged in, water. They are attached to the muddy soil by roots.
E.g. : Vallisneria, Potamogeton etc.
5. Amphibious plants : These live partly in water and partly in air.
E.g. : Sagittaria, Ranunculus, Limnophila.
Some amphibious plants grow around water bodies, with water touching them. They will survive in dry periods also.
Eg : Typha, Cyperus etc.