An exhibition by the Fondation Bodmer and the Botanical Garden, in collaboration with the Bains des Pâquis

Opening July 3 at 6 p.m.

Aquatic plants from near and far

Any plant species living constantly or temporarily in water or in a humid environment can be considered an aquatic plant. Algae are included even if they are not plants in the strict sense.

Water can be salty or fresh, running (sea, lake, stream) or stagnant (mangrove, marsh, pond). Plants may be fixed or drifting, completely or partially submerged, microscopic or visible to the naked eye. They may belong to the algae, moss, fern or flowering plant groups.

Water depth (reduced luminosity), variations in water level, nutrient richness (eutrophication), acidity, soil type and currents strongly influence the development and propagation of species.

Botanists divide aquatic plants into two groups: macrophytes and microphytes. Macrophytes include flowering plants, ferns, mosses and algae visible to the naked eye. The latter include microscopic algae…