Aquatic Plant
/ah-KWAT-ik PLANT/🌳 Plant Types● Basic
Also known as: hydrophyte, water plant
A plant adapted to live in or on water. Aquatic plants are classified as emergent (rooted in shallow water with stems above the surface, like cattails), submergent (fully underwater, like pondweed), floating-leaved (rooted but with floating leaves, like water lilies), or free-floating (not rooted, like duckweed). They play vital roles in aquatic ecosystems by oxygenating water, stabilising sediment, and providing habitat.
Etymology
Latin aquaticus (relating to water) + planta (shoot, sprout)
Example
“Water lilies are floating-leaved aquatic plants that root in pond sediment and spread their leaves across the surface.”