Aquatic and Wetland Plants Lecture

Why are aquatic ecosystems important?

habitat, refugia and food for aquatic organisms

Anthropocentric recreation

Environmental services: water filtration, algal control, erosion control

Economically important aquatic plants: rice, invasive aquatic plants

Definition of aquatic plants

Grow in/near water, evolved to exhibit various forms. Few are fully aquatic

Ephemeral aquatic areas

Are wet for only a portion of the year

How do we define aquatic community boundaries?

By using aquatic plants

Four types of aquatic plants

submerged, floating, emergent, shoreline

Submerged plants

Underwater for full life cycle, roots located in submerged soil at the bottom of water

Floating plants

Plants float on water’s surface, roots may float or be submerged in soil

Emerging plants

Plants with a large portion of their architecture elevated above water’s surface. Roots located in submerged soil

Shoreline plants

Found near the edge of a body of water. Tolerate periodic flooding, but their roots are not fully/continuously submerged

A. Leaf axil: point at which the leaf connects to stem or branch
B. Internode: area between nodes
C. Node: area of the stem where buds develop and form into stems/branches
D. Axillary bud
E. Leaf

Label structures A-E with proper plant architecture terminology.

A. Veins
B. Adaxial surface (top, facing stem)
C. Abaxial surface (bottom, away from stem)
D. Margin (edge of leaf)
E. Apex (tip of leaf)
F. Blade
G. Pulvinus (joint-like thickening at base of leaf/leaflet, helps move the leaf)
H. Stipules
I. Stem
J. Bud

Label structures A-J with proper leaf components.

Acicular: needle shaped

What shape is this leaf?

Falcate: sickle-shaped

What shape is this leaf?

Acuminate: long with tapering point at tip

What shape is this leaf?

Ovate: egg-shaped and wide at base

What shape is this leaf?

Lanceolate: pointed at base

What shape is this leaf?

Cordate: heart-shaped

What shape is this leaf?

Lobed: indented margins

What shape is this leaf?

Deltoid: triangular

What shape is this leaf?

Palmate: hand-shaped

What shape is this leaf?

Elliptic: oval-shaped with little to no point at tip

What shape is this leaf?

A. Apical side

B. Tooth apex

C. Basal side

D. Entire: leaf margin is smooth

E. Crenate: leaf margin is wavy

F: Dentate: teeth on leaf margin at 90 degree angles

G: Serrate: teeth on leaf margin LESS than 90 degree angles

H: Doubly serrate: serrate with small sub-teeth

Label structures A-H with proper leaf margin terminology.

(hint: A & C are asking for the term for these sides)

parallel: veins run parallel to one another (monocots)

What type of venation does this leaf display?

arcuate (think that the veins are ARCING)

- veins arch to come into contact (or nearly) at the leaf apex

What type of venation does this leaf display?

dichotomous: veins branching in pairs, may or may not end in teeth

What type of venation does this leaf display?

dichotomous: veins branching in pairs, may or may not end in teeth

What type of venation does this leaf display?

alternate: 1 leaf per node

What type of leaf arrangement does this plant display?

opposite: 2 leaves per node opposite from one another on stem

What type of leaf arrangement does this plant display?

whorled: 3 or more leaves per node

What type of leaf arrangement does this plant display?

Bud placement

What feature on a twig can you use to determine if its leaves are compound or not?

Simple: single blade connected to a stem

Explain the type of leaf complexity this leaf possesses (simple, compound, etc.)

Trifoliate: single blade with three lobes

Explain the type of leaf complexity this leaf possesses (simple, compound, etc.)

Pinnately-compound: each leaf has multiple leaflets

A. Rachis (area of petiole between leaflets)

B. Petiolule (where leaflet meets rachis)

C. Petiole

D. Terminal leaflet

Explain the type of leaf complexity this leaf possesses (simple, compound, etc.) and label structures A-D.

Pinnately-compound: each leaf has multiple leaflets

A. Leaflet

Explain the type of leaf complexity this leaf possesses (simple, compound, etc.) and label structure A.

Palmately-compound leaf: leaflets arranged to resemble a hand

Explain the type of leaf complexity this leaf possesses (simple, compound, etc.)

Bipinnately-compound: two levels of division

A. Leaflet

B. Petiolule (where leaflet meets rachis)

C. Rachis (think baby stem on compound leaves)

D. Petiole

Explain the type of leaf complexity this leaf possesses (simple, compound, etc.) and label structures A-D.

Peltate leaves

Petiole attached to the abaxial (lower) leaf surface (umbrella shaped)

Petiolate leaves

attached to the stem by a petiole (leaf stalk)

Sheathing leaves

with the lower portion of a grass leaf enveloping, but not fused to the culm, except at a node

Perfoliate leaves

With basal lobes completely surrounding the stem, and fused (connate) around the stem

Aceraceae/Sapindaceae

Maple/soapberry/horse chestnut family

Distinguishing characteristics: samara

Asteraceae

Sunflower family: largest family of angiosperms

Mostly herbs and shrubs, rarely trees.

Flowers composed of cluster of 1 or two distinct flower types: either disc florets or disc+ray florets

Reproduce by achenes, single seed each

Discoid heads

In center of flower, fertile portions: composed of discoid florets

Radiate head

Ray florets surrounding disc florets, have petal-like appendage

Poaceae

Grass family. Important economically for food, shelter, forage for livestock.

20% of global vegetation is grass

Growth habit: annual or perennial herbs. Round stems with solid nodes and hollow internodes

Leaf/branching pattern: parallel venation. Composed of blade, open sheath, and a free ligule

Flowers: divided into florets, compounding into panicles

Diversity: 86 genera and 400 species in KY

Cyperaceae

Sedge family

Growth habit: often 3-sided stems, solid throughout

Leaves: Composed of blade, sheath, and fused ligule

Flowers: each flower is subtended by bract

Fagaceae

Beech/oak family. Tannins present that get into water, leaves have prominent stipules, female flowers each have a scaly cupule at the base

Polygonaceae

Smartweed family

Growth habit: perennial herbs/vines

Leaves simple/alternate

Many species have fused, sheathing stipules (ochrea)

Flowers clustered into inflorescences, either terminal or apical, light pink to purple to white in color

Typhaceae

Cattail family. Flowers arranged in an elongated spike