Nutrition and Flowering of Water Plants

Abstract

A nocturnal loss of carbohydrate from submerged or floating foliage keeps the amt. of this major nutrient low. The % rises to a max. at the longest days. In Callitriche and Littorella growing under water, even this max. is insufficient for flowering. These spp., however, flower in aerial conditions when no nocturnal loss of carbohydrate is found, and the % is much higher than in submerged plants.. Some spp. apparently find the midsummer max. sufficient for flowering under water. The fruiting of cryptogamic water plants is not confined to the long days of summer, and their carbohydrate nutrients do not explain their fruiting reactions.