[APD] RE: Aquatic vs Aquarium Plants

["Steve Pushak" <teban at powersonic_bc.ca>]

Stephan Mifsud wrote:
> Steve Pushak  said: 'The "definition" of aquatic plant is
> made entirely
> based upon arbitrary
> classification for some other purpose; there is no hard biological
> distinction.'
>
> This is something which bothers me. I think we are constantly
> using the term
> 'aquatic-plants' instead of 'aquarium-plants'. There ARE
> distinct biological
> characteristics that are only found in aquatic plants. A truly
> aquatic plant
> grows in water, in Nature, and the aquatic habitat is
> essential for it to
> complete its life cycle.

I think you are talking about an obligate aquatic plant; one that cannot
live above the water surface. IMHO virtually everybody uses the term
"aquatic plant" for plants other than obligate aquatic plants.

The vast majority of our aquarium plants can grow with leaves with
leaves above OR below the water surface. For these adaptable plants,
there is no hard distinction between those which can or cannot live
below the water surface. Instead I suggest that we need to define plants
which are "suitable for aquarium plants" and there is certainly room for
difference of opinions. Some plants are more suitable than others, often
simply because they have attractive or unique forms! This is getting a
bit repetitious.

I hope I've clarified what I'm trying to say. Its a little difficult to
explain. If its still confusing, oh well, I give up. It's a relatively
minor point isn't it? Sort of like the rubber band vs. fishing line war?
I can see good points for using either. :-)

Is Spathiphyllum a suitable aquatic plant? I don't think we'll get a
solid consensus. Another way to put it: its an aquatic plant if you want
it to be. Can you live with that statement? :-)

The majority of terrestrial plants simply cannot exist under water for
any length of time. There's a grey area of plants that can be forced to
grow underwater if you supply "adequate" conditions. Since adequate is a
defined circularly, there's no way of quantifying a definite demarcation
point.

Steve P

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