A plant adapted to live in aquatic environments or waterlogged soils, with specialized features like air-filled tissues, flexible stems, and modified leaves for underwater or floating life. These plants form the basis of wetland and aquatic ecosystems.
From Greek 'hydro' meaning 'water' and 'phyton' meaning 'plant.' The term emerged in botanical classification systems as scientists distinguished between plants adapted to different moisture levels.
Hydrophytes are living snorkels! Many have hollow stems and leaves filled with air spaces called aerenchyma that act like internal breathing tubes, allowing oxygen to reach roots even when they're completely underwater in oxygen-poor mud.
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