Aquatic and Wetland Plants Lecture Material

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

3

Mastered

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.

4

Mastered

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.

5

Mastered

Acicular: needle shaped

What shape is this leaf?

6

Mastered

Falcate: sickle-shaped

What shape is this leaf?

7

Mastered

Acuminate: long with tapering point at tip

What shape is this leaf?

8

Mastered

Ovate: egg-shaped and wide at base

What shape is this leaf?

9

Mastered

Lanceolate: pointed at base

What shape is this leaf?

10

Mastered

Cordate: heart-shaped

What shape is this leaf?

11

Mastered

Lobed: indented margins

What shape is this leaf?

12

Mastered

Deltoid: triangular

What shape is this leaf?

13

Mastered

Palmate: hand-shaped

What shape is this leaf?

14

Mastered

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

What shape is this leaf?

15

Mastered

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)

16

Mastered

parallel: veins run parallel to one another (monocots)

What type of venation does this leaf display?

17

Mastered

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?

18

Mastered

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

What type of venation does this leaf display?

19

Mastered

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

What type of venation does this leaf display?

20

Mastered

alternate: 1 leaf per node

What type of leaf arrangement does this plant display?

21

Mastered

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

What type of leaf arrangement does this plant display?

22

Mastered

whorled: 3 or more leaves per node

What type of leaf arrangement does this plant display?

23

Mastered

Bud placement

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

24

Mastered

Simple: single blade connected to a stem

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

25

Mastered

Trifoliate: single blade with three lobes

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

26

Mastered

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.

27

Mastered

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.

28

Mastered

Palmately-compound leaf: leaflets arranged to resemble a hand

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

29

Mastered

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.