Common Stinging Nettle

Roots grow in the mud, with the entire plant submerged in water, possessing well-developed aerenchyma for gas exchange. Leaves are typically narrow and elongated or filamentous, capable of absorbing nutrients from the water and continuing to grow and develop under weak underwater light conditions. They have certain water quality requirements, as turbid water can hinder photosynthesis. Flowers are small and the blooming period is short, primarily valued for their foliage. Submerged plants absorb nutrients from the water, including nitrogen and phosphorus, during growth. For eutrophic lakes and wetlands, planned annual harvesting of submerged plants can transfer excessive nutrients from the water, playing a positive role in alleviating eutrophication. Submerged plants are crucial for maintaining the clear water stability of lakes. With the disappearance of submerged plants, lakes can transition from clear to turbid water states, a process known as stability transformation. An important task in lake ecological restoration is to restore lakes from turbid to clear water states through the recovery of submerged plants. Generally, submerged plants with low intrinsic stability can serve as pioneer species in water ecological restoration.