Tag: aquatic plant adaptations

Finely dissected or ribbon-like leaves in submerged plants increase the surface area for gas exchange and reduce resistance to water currents.

Submerged hydrophytes are entirely underwater, so they do not have stomata because they exchange gases directly through their epidermis.

Hydrophytes live in water, which provides buoyancy, so they do not require extensive mechanical tissues like sclerenchyma to support their weight.

Aerenchyma is a spongy tissue that forms spaces or air channels in the leaves, stems and roots of submerged and aquatic plants. The floating leaves are there due to this feature of aerenchyma only. The aquatic plants or hydrophytes do not have submerged leaves or a well developed phloem, So the correct answer is 'Aerenchyma.'

Floating leaves have a waxy coating to repel water, which prevents the stomata on the upper surface from becoming clogged by water droplets, ensuring gas exchange can occur.

Since submerged hydrophytes lack stomata and a cuticle, they absorb dissolved gases directly from the water through their general surface area.

The question asks for a hydrophyte with both hydrophytic and xerophytic traits. None of the listed options (Agave is a xerophyte, Nerium is a xerophyte, Vallisneria is a hydrophyte) fit the description of a plant that exhibits both sets of traits.

Hydrophytes often have poorly developed roots or lack them entirely, and they frequently lack root caps because they do not need to penetrate soil in the same way terrestrial plants do.

Hydrophytes typically have reduced xylem and lack vessels, but they do possess tracheids. Therefore, the statement that tracheids are absent is incorrect.

Hydrilla is a submerged hydrophyte that absorbs water and nutrients directly through its leaves and stem, leading to a very poorly developed root system.