What are the special adaptive features of water lilies?

Special Adaptive Features Of Water Lilies --



1 ) The length of the petiole is equal to the depth of water so that the leaves can easily float on water .( It is not free floating but rooted hydrophyte.)



2 ) The petiole and the leaves show large air cavities . They help the plant to remain floating .



3 ) Stomata are only on the upper surface of the leaf as the lower surface is in contact with water.



4 ) Leaf is large but internally supported by Astrosclerids



see photo on the link

http://www.biologie.uni-hamburg.de/b-onl...



5 ) Sclerenchyma is poorly developed as water gives the mechanical support.

What are the special adaptive features of water lilies?
For floating aquatics:

A waxy secretion on the leaf surface produces a high surface tension, ensuring that the leaf always floats on the pond surface.

Since the underside of theleaf is always in contact with water, the stomata are all on the upper surface, in contact with air.



For plants with roots in the ground;

weak stems using water buoyancy to keep leaves on surface

The site below has more info:

http://www.humboldt.edu/~ere_dept/marsh/...