Question

What is known as fixed plants? Give examples

Answer 1

Aquatic plants are plants that have adapted to living in the water (saltwater or freshwater). To distinguish them from algae and other microphytes, they are also known as hydrophytes or macrophytes.

Complete answer:
A macrophyte is a plant that grows near or in water and can be emergent, submergent, or floating. Macrophytes in lakes and rivers provide cover for fish, a substrate for aquatic invertebrates, produce oxygen, and provide food for some fish and wildlife.

Few plants, such as lotus and water-lily, have roots that anchor the plants in the mud at the bottom of the pond. They are known as fixed aquatic plants. The roots of such plants are fixed in the soil at the bottom of a pond. Lotus, Water Lilly, Hydrilla are some examples.

A few fixed plant characteristics are as follows:
- They have plate-like leaves that float above the surface of the water.
- The stomata in the leaves are located on the top side.
- Because fixed plants' steam is light and hollow, the leaves can float.
- The stems are very flexible; as water flows through them, they flex and are not affected by the strong current.

Many small aquatic animals use plants like duckweed as a home or to protect themselves from predators. Other well-known aquatic plants include floating hearts, water lily, lotus, and water hyacinth.

Note: Aquatic plants require special adaptations to survive submerged or at the water's surface. The presence of lightweight internal packing cells, aerenchyma, is the most common adaptation, but floating leaves and finely dissected leaves are also common. Aquatic plants can only grow in water or soil that is frequently soaked in water. As a result, they are a common component of wetlands.