Indigenous Water Plants: Waterblommetjie, Cape Pondweed  (Aponogeton angustifolius)

• The leaves of Waterblommetjies and other water lilies float on the surface of the water where they absorb sunlight for photosynthesis.

• Instead of having their stomata on the under-surface of the leaf like most plants, they are found on the upper surface of Waterblommetjie leaves. Why do you think this is?

• Waterblommetjie stems feel spongy because there are many air spaces in their tissues. This enables the stems to float and provides the cells inside the plant with air.

• These small water lilies can survive in seasonal wetlands because they die back in summer and their starchy roots lie buried in the mud. In the rainy season when the wetlands fill with water, their leaves and flowers grow from the roots.

Indigenous Water Plants: Bulrush, Papkuil (Typha capensis)

• Bulrushes are very common in the lowlands of Cape Town, growing around the edges of freshwater wetlands and in waterlogged soil.

• The spongy rhizomes can grow in the mud under water because, like waterblommetjie stems, they have many air spaces between the cells.

• The long strap-like leaves grow above the water.

• The rhizomes of bulrushes spread rapidly and give rise to many leaves. They invade wetlands to a depth of about half a metre. Dense stands of bulrushes are very effective at purifying water in wetlands as they absorb lots of nutrients from the water.