##  [Pressurised Ventilation In Floating-leaved Aquatic Macrophytes](/resource/pressurised-ventilation-floating-leaved-aquatic-macrophytes) 

Organization

[University of Colongne](/organization/university-colongne)

 

 

Resource Type

[Peer reviewed article](/taxonomy/term/37)

 

 

Author(s)

Große Wolfgang

 

 

Original Authors

Große Wolfgang

 

 

Resource Date:

1996

 

 

## Abstract

Gas through-flow by pressurised ventilation is well known in floating-leaved aquatic plants. The ventilation system operates via different structural features in different species: being through rhizomes in *Nuphar* species, is restricted to whorls in *Nymphoides*, or even individual leaves in *Nelumbo*. The convective through-flow in these aquatic plants is the result of a gas-pumping system, commonly powered by solar radiation, with air influx and pressurisation of the youngest, just emerged leaves along positive humidity and temperature gradients between leaf aerenchyma and the ambient atmosphere. It improves the internal aeration of submerged plant organs, has high physiological significance to the plant, and confers beneficial effects on the ecosystem. Since the acquisition of gas through-flow systems is not restricted to closely related plant species, but can be correlated with special ecosystemal conditions, it should be seen as a special adaptation to plant survival under oxygen shortage stress.