Characteristics of aquatic plants:
- A thin cuticle. Thick cuticles reduce water loss; thus most hydrophytes have no need for thick cuticles.
- Stomata that are open most of the time, because water is abundant and there is no need for it to be retained in the plant. This means that guard cells on the stomata are generally inactive.
- An increased number of stomata, which can be on either side of the leaves.
- A less rigid structure: water pressure supports them.
- Flat leaves on surface plants for flotation.
- Air sacs for flotation.
- Smaller roots: water can diffuse directly into leaves; thus large root systems are not required for water uptake.
- Feathery roots: no need to support the plant.
- Specialized roots able to take in oxygen.All floating plants
- Either have air spaces trapped in their roots, or else air spaces in their bodies (aerenchyma) to help them to float, thus receiving adequate sunshine
- Have hair on their leaves that traps air
- Structural adaptations
- Have hollow stems to float on water.
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