Wetland plants - Dr Jekyll or Mr Hyde?

Abstract

ENVIRONMENT W etland plants are not entirely villainous vegetation – ongoing research into the biology of these plants, as well as conservation efforts, prove we couldn’t survive without them. So says René Glen of the National Botanical Institute in Pretoria. “Wetland plants are often considered to be problem plants, growing in wet, smelly places that are ideal breeding places for mosquitoes,” she explains. “They are also often referred to as aquatic weeds, which depicts infestations of unwanted plants, causing severe economic losses.” But, continues Glen, “aquatic weeds” are not all bad – these plants (including Potamogeton species pectinatus, crispus and schweinfurthii) point out the most prolific bass fishing areas in South Africa, for example. “Juvenile bass crowd under the thick weed beds to hide from predators while adult bass hide among the weeds to ambush prey.

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