Aquatic Flower Classification
I. Lifestyle Categories
1. Erect-stemmed aquatic flowers (including those wet-grown in marshes)
Tall plants with vibrant flower colors, most have distinct stems and leaves; the roots or underground stems grow into the mud, while the upper part of the plant protrudes above the water surface.
Lotus, Yellow Iris, Lythrum, Sweet Flag, Reed, Water Chestnut, Flag Iris, and Reeds (Spathiphyllum) etc.
2. Floating leaf aquatic flowers
Rhizomes are well-developed, flowers are large and vibrant, without any obvious aboveground stems or stems that are too slender to stand upright. Typically, these plants store a substantial amount of gas within their bodies, causing the leaves or plants to float on the water surface.
Lotus, Victoria Waterlily, Duckweed, Euryale, Water Spinach, etc.
Floatable Aquatic Flowers
Roots do not grow in the mud, the plants float on the water's surface, drifting wherever the current and waves take them.
Aquatic Flowers
Aquatic Flowers
Water Hyacinth, Water Lily, Water Fern, Water Chestnut, Water Poppy, etc.
Submersible aquatic flowers
Roots grow in the mud, the entire plant submerged in the water, with well-developed aerenchyma.
Black algae, goldfish algae, fox tail algae, bitter grass, and duckweed, etc.
Section II: Water Body Condition Classification
Waterbody Conditions
The roots, stems, and leaves of aquatic flowers often contain interconnected aerenchyma, facilitating the plant's oxygen needs in aquatic environments. Generally, slow-moving water bodies are conducive to growth; however, some species require rapid-flowing streams or springs, such as watercress and duckweed. Besides certain marsh plants that can grow in wetlands, most require relatively stable water depth conditions. The bottom soil should be rich in organic matter and clayey. They can typically be categorized into the following five types:
Aquatic plants, such as Acorus calamus from the Araceae family, which grow in shallow water areas with water depths generally less than 0.5 centimeters, like swamps.
Aquatic Flowers
Aquatic flowers
Stems and upright, sword-shaped leaves; bloom in yellow in early summer, often planted along pond edges or combined with lotus flowers and water lilies for ornamental purposes. The entire plant can also be used as a spice or in medicine. The sedge Cyperus alternifolius features graceful leaves, suitable for pot cultivation or placed on rocks in ponds for display. The iris Iris pseudacorus of the iris family blooms in yellow in spring and summer, ideal for water-side planting or in stream rock crevices. The lythrum Lythrum salicaria of the lythraceae family blooms in purple in summer and autumn, suitable for planting along water's edge or in flower borders, also suitable for pot cultivation. The cruciferous Nasturtium officinale, also known as watercress or watercress, blooms in white flowers in summer, can be used as a vegetable and makes an excellent garden water-side plant.
Sturdy water-resistant materials
Stems extend above the water surface, generally adaptable to waters up to 1 meter deep. Besides lotus, there's also Typha latifolia from the Typhaceae family (also known as a reed), which reaches 1.5 to 2.5 meters in height. Its leaves are linear, flowers are tiny, and its spadix can be used for cut flowers. The reed hair and leaves can be used as industrial raw materials.
Aquatic Flowers
Aquatic Flowers
Aquatic Plants - Leaves float on or slightly above the water surface, and can grow in shallow water to depths of 2 to 3 meters. For instance, Euryale ferox, a species in the lotus family (芡实, chicken head seeds), has spiny whole plants, leaf clusters floating on the surface; it blooms purple flowers in summer, with flower buds resembling chicken heads. Nymphaea tetragona, also from the lotus family, boasts both beautiful flowers and leaves, with solitary white flowers floating on the surface; its leaves are horseshoe-shaped with long stalks. It is often used in garden landscaping, placed in water to adorn pondscapes; its roots can purify wastewater. Other species in the same genus, such as N.alba (white water lily), N.mexicana (Mexican water lily), and N.odorata (fragrant water lily), are also suitable for ornamental purposes.
Submersible type
Stems and leaves are fully submerged in water, capable of adapting to deeper water bodies, such as goldfish algae (Sargassum), knotweed, water spinach, and others.
Floating Items
Roots typically do not grow within the soil but extend into the water, with the plants floating on the surface or drifting with water currents and waves. Examples include duckweed, water lily (large papyrus), and water hyacinth (凤眼莲).