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Rdest: description
Rdest is a perennial plant that lives in rivers and lakes. Its spikelets can be easily spotted on the surface of the water. It is an excellent natural fertilizer as it contains a large amount of lime. And also it is food for fish and some species of animals that live in the water. In folk medicine, such a simple-looking plant has also been used; it is used to treat dermatitis and furunculosis.
General characteristics of the plant and photo of the pond
Representatives of the rdestov family can be found in almost every corner of the world. They prefer stagnant and calm waters, although they can also be found in the backwaters of slowly flowing rivers. With the help of long sympoidal roots, the plant is fixed in the bottom soil, although individual shoots are able to separate from the parent plant and develop in free swimming.
Rdest contains tannins with astringent and bactericidal effect
The pondweed bloom lasts from late July to mid-August. The inflorescence looks like a spike of brown-green color. Flowers are usually bisexual, small in size. Fruits, depending on the species, can consist of 1-4 drupe-like parts.
The plant has alternate leaves, which can be of various shapes and sizes. In nature, there are specimens with oval, threadlike or linear leaves. They can grow both underwater and float on its surface. If you do not take measures to cleanse the reservoirs, then the plant spreads very quickly and forms dense thickets, which serve as an excellent shelter for fish fry.
Description of the most famous types of pondweed
Currently, there are more than 140 species of the pondweed family known, and almost all of them differ from each other. The following types are considered the most famous:
- Holly – the length of the branched stem reaches 60 cm. The leaves, immersed in water, have a linear shape and are green with a reddish tinge. Flowers are collected in a spherical inflorescence of 5-7 pcs. This species is included in the Red Book.
- Floating – better known as water cabbage. It has a powerful stem up to 1,5 m long. Leaves can be both underwater and floating. Inflorescences are cylindrical-spike-shaped, 3 to 5 cm long. Flowers are numerous, small, bisexual.
- Dull-leaved is a perennial plant with a thin rhizome. The stem is thin, highly branched. Linear leaves grow up to 5 cm long. The top of the leaf is rounded. Inflorescence up to 1 cm long has 6-8 flowers.
Rdesta are very popular among lovers of aquarium fish breeding. They are also used to decorate artificial reservoirs. It should only be remembered that it takes root very quickly, and it is almost impossible to remove it, so you should think carefully before decorating your summer pond with them.