Hobbies And Interests
Types
There are four main categories that wetland plants and trees fall into: emergent, submergent, floating and riparian. Emergent plants are rooted in soil with plant parts extending above the water. They are abundant in marshes. Submergent plants spent their lives underwater. Floating plants have most of their parts floating on the surface of the water. Their roots are either in the soil or left floating under the water's surface. Riparian plants, the category that embraces many wetland trees, are found at the edges of wetland habitats or the bodies of water that inhabit them.
Benefits
Wetland plants and trees offer a number of benefits. Those found in coastal wetlands aid in the prevention of coastal erosion and the mitigation of its effects. They slow the flow of water and soak enough up to prevent nearby rivers and lakes from overflowing. In addition, these plants filter excess nutrients and pollutants from wetland waters. Wetland fish, aquatic wildlife and birds also find protection and breeding grounds within and among wetland trees and plants.
Unique Adaptations
Given the unique qualities attributed to wetlands, some plants have adopted interesting features. The Venus flytrap is one of these. This plant gets its nutrients from insects, which it attracts with bright colors and sweet nectar. They evolved this function because of the low-nutrient soil found in many wetlands, like bogs. Cattails are another plant species that has an interesting adaptation: air pockets. These air pockets store oxygen and move it down their stems to their roots. They were adapted because of the low or no-oxygen soil found in marshes.
Edible Wetland Plants
Certain wetlands plants, including rice and cranberries, are harvested for human consumption. In the Great Lakes region of the United States, wild rice is important in shallow water wetlands, where many species feed on its seeds. Humans have also cultivated rice in the region. Cranberries are also grown in wetlands, both natural and man-made, specifically bogs. The acidic water and soil in these wetlands are needed for cranberry vines to grow.