Emersed Growth - Explanation Please

[theotheragentm]

I didn't want to thread hijack. Is emersed growth simply plants that are not completely underwater? Are plants like water lilies that have leaves that make their way to the top automatically considered emersed growth? If I could get some clarification, that would be appreciated.

 

[Peyton]

Some plants can grow both in and out of water. They are this way because their enviroment has fluctuating water levels. Emersed growth is out of water growth. Submersed is underwater growth. Most of the time the leaf shape and textures change in this transition. Sometimes both submersed and emersed leafs are on the same plant.

On the lillys, the floating leafs would be emersed growth (ie, above the water line).

 

[Jchillin]

You can also think of emersed as plants with roots planted in some form of substrate, with a very shallow water level. Yes, along with water lilies, there are a variety of plants that can achieve some form of emersed growth. These are plants that send stems above the water line and produce flowers.