Common Types of Underwater Plants

There are a plethora of aquatic plants that inhabit the seafloor. Some of these species are prevalent in specific areas. 

Submerged aquatic vegetation includes plants that can survive wholly underwater, and the root systems grow into the floor sediment.

Marine plant species have various shapes and sizes. These plants help maintain ecological balance under the water. 

Characteristics of Underwater Plants 

Typically different types of underwater plants share a wide range of characteristics with one another.

For instance, some plants can survive underwater without cuticles

Cuticles are an essential part of the water plant that helps prevent excess loss of water.

Another notable characteristic of the aquatic plant is that the stomata remain open at all times. 

The water pressure deep into the ocean is relatively high as a result structure of plants that live in water is quite robust.

Flat leaves help aquatic plants float on the surface. Some floating aquatic plants also have air sacs around them.

The roots of underwater plants are pretty small in comparison to plants found on the land.

The roots have a light structure that helps extract oxygen from the water.

Underwater Plants

There are three different forms of aquatic plants in nature.

Plants float above the water surface- In such plants, the roots float in water or remain rooted in the sediment.

Plants that remain entirely submerged- These are the plants that grow entirely underwater.

Plants found in swampy areas- Plants that grow in swampy have the lower portion submerged in water.

The remaining part of the plant sticks out of the water surface.

The following section discusses some of the common underwater plants under the sea.

1. Pondweed (Potamogeton)

This plant has thin leaves that grow around various water bodies.

It serves as a hiding place and food source for different aquatic animals.

Pondweed provides the much-needed oxygen in small water bodies.

It is a non-invasive plant that is native to most areas. 

2. Muskgrass (Chara spp.)

It is a type of erect algae that helps maintain water bodies with an excess concentration of nutrients.

Muskgrass absorbs the nutrients from the water and provides food to fish and other aquatic organisms.

The thin straw-like stem is a characteristic feature of musk grass.

The branch consists of a single cell, and it turns flaccid when broken.

The easiest way of identifying musk grass is by its garlic-like solid smell. 

3. Common Waterweed (Egeria Densa)

Water weeds have several branches along with a solid and narrow stem. The leaves grow out in whorls of 4 and are very dense.

The leaves of common waterweed can be fine-toothed, elliptical, or linear.

White-colored flowers with yellow anthers grow in these plants.

Excess growth of water weeds can completely cover small water bodies.

4. Bladderwort (Utricularia Purpurea)

It is a fixed aquatic plant that commonly grows in small water bodies with low nutrient content. Bladderwort is a carnivorous plant.

Typically, it appears like an organized mesh on the surface, but it forms a star-shaped structure with yellow flowers over time.

Black bladder-like structures hang into the water that traps tiny aquatic organisms.

5. Elodea (Elodea Canadensis)

This water living plants have a similar appearance to Egeria or hydrilla, but it is relatively smaller in size.

It has bright green leaves that grow in whorls of 3.

The shape of the leaves can be either elliptic or oblong.

Small white flowers grow on this plant during the mid-summer

6. Eurasian Watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum)

It is a highly invisible species of underwater plant. Boats avoid entering into water bodies that have Eurasian watermilfoil.

Small pieces of the plant break off, stick to sports, and then read themselves in other water bodies.

The leaves are fragile and limp when put out of water.

Surprisingly the plants can grow up to a length of 10 feet.

Leaves on this plant grow in circles of 3 to 5.

The reddish color of the stem helps in identifying these plants found in water.

7. Coontail (Ceratophyllum demersum) 

It is a type of aquatic plant that is devoid of any root structure.

The feather-like leaves grow out in whorls that look like a raccoon tail.

Coontail plants can quickly grow up to a length of 15 feet under deep water. 

Underwater plants adapt in different ways to keep up with the changing environment.

There is an extensive range of aquatic plants, and each has distinctive characteristics.

Some of these plants float, while others are wholly or partially submerged underwater.

Plants found in water play an important role in sustaining aquatic life and the ecosystem.