IT07-Lagoons of Po River Delta - Italy

Marshes are peopled by a number of plant species having underwater roots and sometimes even underwater - or just emerging - leaves. These plants are called hydrophytes, that is, ´water plants´. Among them, the Frogbit, the Willow grass, several types of Long-stalked Pondweed and Buttercups, the White Water-Lily. Other species, called helophytes, have underwater roots but emerging stems and leaves. Among them, some common species such as the Common reed and the Broadleaf Cattail, but also some localised ones, such as the Lesser Water-plantain, the Branched Bur-reed and the Arrowhead. Water bodies´ banks species live on the edge of wetlands and wet meadows, since they need to be flooded for some time but can not live with their roots underwater all the year round. The most common species, such as the Purple Loosestrife, the Marshmallow, the Comfrey and the Hemp agrimony, can be found even along countryside ditches. Some other species live only on the edge of marshlands and the main canals, such as the Flowering Rush and the Yellow Iris. The area also houses some rare and localised species, such as the Euphorbia palustris and the Summer Snowflake