Due to the unique circumstances of wetlands and the high presence of water, they have led to unique adaptations and species of plants. Even amongst wetlands, there are different types, all of which support various plants. So that now begs the question- what are some common wetland plants, and how do they go about supporting the environment?
Today, in this article, I’ll give you a wetland plants list and talk about some of the common wetland plants you might encounter. We’ll also be looking at why they are important for the environment and how we can protect them from extinction.
Different Types Of Wetland Plants List
While wetlands are characterized by a surplus of water, the definition is quite vague. This has led to the classification of many different types of wetlands based on their circumstances.
Depending on the type of wetland, there will usually be different wetland plant species. As a result, when we talk about various wetland plant species, we’re mostly talking about the different classifications of wetlands.
These types of wetlands include:
Aquatic
Aquatic wetlands are identifiable by their deep water. Water levels that are 1 meter deep are characteristic of aquatic wetlands. Plants that grow here are often submerged with only their flowers or leaves visible above the water surface.
Emergent
Emergent wetlands feature water levels lower than aquatic ones. Plants still often remain submerged in these types of wetlands, but more of their parts are visible.
Saturated
Saturated wetlands have wet soil. They are usually similar to marshes and retain this type of soil for the whole year. These types of wetlands usually present a challenge for plants as saturated soil has much lower oxygen content, leading to plants needing unique adaptations to survive.
Moist
Unlike saturated wetlands, moist wetlands do not retain their soil’s water content for the whole year. They experience drier and harder soil during summer, where the water content usually dries up before being refilled during the monsoon season.
Common Wetland Plant
Now let’s look at some common wetland plants. These include:
White Fir
White Fir can be seen in the wetlands of Southern California. These are hardy trees that can withstand both high-temperature areas and areas that experience heavy rain. In the wetlands, they can be seen to dominate and thrive. While they generally prefer dryer soil as they can be found in mountain ranges too, white fir can also grow in areas with more moist soil.
Dark Green Bulrush
Dark Green Bulrush is a common sight in many wetlands or marshlands as the conditions naturally favor it. The plant prefers cooler soil and the moist soil in many wetlands helps them thrive better. They are more frequently seen during Spring and fall seasons when the conditions are perfect for their growth.
Cobra Plant
Cobra plants are plants that have uniquely adapted to survive in the wetlands. They can thrive even in saturated soil where they don’t receive as many nutrients due to their additional ability to attract and consume prey. The leaves of this plant resemble snakes and contain nectar that attracts unsuspecting prey. Due to this unique feature, they can be found even in bogs where the conditions aren’t ideal for most plants.
Coneflower
Coneflowers aren’t found in every type of wetland. They require long hours of sunlight to thrive, so more open wetlands that are exposed to the sun make for a great breeding ground for coneflower. They can also be seen lining ponds and are quite visible due to their blooming red petals.
Catberry
Catberry is a species of shrubs found in moist wetlands. They fall under the category of Holly plants which prefer moist soil. Though like coneflower, they also prefer partial to full sunlight. Catberry is mostly relegated to wetlands and can be commonly found in the wetlands near Virginia America.
Water Lilies
Water lilies are one of the most commonly seen or heard about wetland plants. They are usually found in wetlands that contain fresh water. Their stems burrow into the ground and can absorb various nutrients. Water lilies refer to a group of plants it consists of 58 species. These plants prefer tropical climates.
Columbian Monkshood
You might encounter these plants in the wetlands or moist areas of North America. They are easily identifiable by their violet petals and long stems. Columbian Monkshood thrives in moist soil and is poisonous to deter predators or unsuspecting people.
Endangered Wetland Plants List
Despite their unique adaptations to help combat the harsh situations in some wetlands, not all plants are thriving. There are some wetland plants on the brink of disappearing. They are:
- Grape Fern
- Bog Rose
- Bog Sedge
- Texas hatpins
- Long-stalked holly
- Bog asphodel
How Wetland Plants Are Important To Wildlife
In some wetlands, wetland plants are the only source of food for certain species of animals. As a result, they are part of a massive ecological balance. If the plants disappeared or became extinct, the animals would lose their food source. This would, in turn, affect their predators and result in an ecosystem being extremely damaged.
These plants are also responsible for maintaining the water and nitrogen cycle in these areas. Without them, water erosion and later floods can occur in areas leading to loss of life.
As you can see, in many wetlands, these plants are an important part that helps stabilize the area. An effect on these plants can lead to an avalanche of effects that can cause harm to areas around the wetlands like certain settlements.
How To Protect Wetland Plants
The protection methods for wetland plants can differ depending on the area and plants. Some commonly used ones include:
Check The Streams
Streams of water near wetlands can both help and harm plants. A steady stream of water will provide the plants with the necessary water needed to thrive; however, too much water can cause the plants to be damaged. Often buffers are used to control the water flow.
Eliminate Or Prevent Invasive Species Introduction
One of the most dangerous things to wetland plants is the invasive species. These species can quickly overtake an environment and upset it, leading to previous wetland species being decimated. Always be careful of what species are being introduced to wetlands.
Avoid Excess Pesticide
Pests are often unavoidable in wetlands. However, due to the design of wetlands, the use of pesticides can be extremely harmful as they can go into the water, which can later kill aquatic animals or poison the water. This, in turn, will harm the plants. Make sure to limit your use or resort to other methods of pest control.
Conclusion
Wetland plants are very important for the environment. I hope that this article has made you understand and better appreciate their role in the ecosystem.