The main difference between hydrophytes mesophytes and xerophytes is that hydrophytes are plants that live in aquatic environments, and mesophytes are plants that live in moderate climates, whereas xerophytes are plants that live in dry conditions.
Hydrophytes, mesophytes, and xerophytes are three types of plants that show different adaptations according to their water requirement.
Key Areas Covered
1. What are Hydrophytes
– Definition, Structure, Importance
2. What are Mesophytes
– Definition, Structure, Importance
3. What are Xerophytes
– Definition, Structure, Importance
4. Similarities Between Hydrophytes Mesophytes and Xerophytes
– Outline of Common Features
5. Difference Between Hydrophytes Mesophytes and Xerophytes
– Comparison of Key Differences
Key Terms
Hydrophytes, Mesophytes, Xerophytes
What are Hydrophytes
Hydrophytes are plants that live in or on water. Macrophytes or aquatic plants are the other names for hydrophytes. Hydrophytes are fully or partially submerged or floating on water. They provide a cover to other organisms living in water, such as fish, and aquatic invertebrates, provide food to them, and produce oxygen. They also slow down the flow of water, capture pollutants, and trap sediments.
Figure 1: Hydrophyte
The main adaptation of hydrophytes to live in water is the presence of lightweight internal packing cells that are aerenchyma. Aerenchyma also occurs in floating leaves and finely dissected leaves. Apart from that, hydrophytes are a part of wetlands. Amazon water lily is the largest hydrophyte, while minute duckweeds are the smallest.
What are Mesophytes
Mesophytes are terrestrial plants that are neither adapted to wet environments nor dry environments. They prefer soil and air in moderate humidity. Mesophytes make up the largest ecological group of terrestrial plants. Moreover, mesophytes do not show specific adaptations for water or for dryness. They contain a thin cuticle with stomata in the epidermis of leaves and stem. The opening and closing of stomata are determined by the availability of water. However, mesophytes require a continuous supply of water.
Figure 2: Mesophytes
The leaves of the mesophytes are broad, flat, and green in color. Mesophytes also contain an extremely fibrous root system to absorb water and develop perennating organs such as rhizomes, corms, and bulbs during drought.
What are Xerophytes
Xerophytes are plants adapted to live in dry environments with little liquid water. Typically, deserts are such environments. Therefore, xerophytes have adaptations to conserve water by storing water in large quantities. They also shut down the metabolic activities in plants during dry periods. Cacti is an example of such a xerophyte. Furthermore, the thick, fleshy stems are the water-storage parts of the xerophytes. Therefore, they contain water to use at any point in time.
Figure 3: Xerophytes
Moreover, the waxy coating of leaves and the stem, dropping leaves during the dry seasons, folding leaves for sunlight absorption, and hairy covering of leaves are the other adaptations of xerophytes to conserve water inside the plant.
Similarities Between Hydrophytes Mesophytes and Xerophytes
- Hydrophytes, mesophytes, and xerophytes are three types of plants that show adaptations to the environments according to their water requirement.
- They are differentiated into stems, roots, and leaves.
Difference Between Hydrophytes Mesophytes and Xerophytes
Definition
Hydrophytes refer to plants that grow either partly or totally submerged in water; mesophytes refer to plants that grow in an environment having a moderate supply of water, while xerophytes refer to plants that are adapted to an arid environment.
Plant Structure
The plant structure of hydrophytes is not well developed, while the plant structures of mesophytes and xerophytes are well developed into roots and shoots.
Cuticle
Hydrophytes lack a cuticle; mesophytes contain a thin cuticle, while xerophytes contain a thick cuticle.
Leaves
Moreover, hydrophytes contain long, fine dissected petioles, and mesophytes contain large, broad, and green leaves, while xerophytes contain small, fleshy leaves.
Stomata
Hydrophytes lack stomata, and mesophytes contain stomata on leaves, while xerophytes contain very few stomata.
Examples
Examples of hydrophytes include Vallisneria and hydrilla, while examples of mesophytes are rose and squash, and examples of xerophytes include cacti and agave.
Conclusion
In brief, hydrophytes, mesophytes, and xerophytes are three types of plants that show adaptations to the amount of water they have. Hydrophytes live in water, and their plant structure is now well-developed. They lack cuticles and contain long, fine, dissected petioles. In addition, they lack stomata. Examples of hydrophytes include Vallisneria and hydrilla. On the other hand, mesophytes live in moderate conditions of water. Therefore, they contain cuticles and large, broad, green leaves. However, mesophytes contain stomata. Rose and squash are examples of mesophytes. In comparison, xerophytes live in environments with very low amounts of water. Therefore, they contain a thick cuticle and contain very a smaller number of stomata. The leaves of xerophytes are small and fleshy. Examples of xerophytes are cacti and agave. Thus, this is the summary of the difference between hydrophytes, mesophytes, and xerophytes.
References:
- “Hydrophytes.” Everything Ponds.
- “Mesophyte.” An Overview | ScienceDirect Topics.
- “Xerophyte.” An Overview | ScienceDirect Topics.
Image Courtesy:
- “Nelumbo nucifera LOTUS bud” By Anand2202 – Own work (CC-BY SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
- “2020-05-20 08 05 42 Multiflora Rose flowers along a walking path within Horsepen Run Stream Valley Park in Oak Hill, Fairfax County, Virginia” By Famartin – Own Work (CC-BY SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
- “Euphorbia-virosa” By Muriel Gottrop – Own Work (CC-BY SA 1.0) via Commons Wikimedia
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