Freshwater Wetlands
The oxbows, mortlakes, channels, abandoned quarries, and basins house a very rich marsh vegetation.
On the embankments, banks, and in the flood plains there are willows and poplars. In the meadows you can find thick tufts of Great Pond-sedge (Carex riparia), the flowers of the Hedge Bindweed (Calystegia sepium) or the inflorescences of the Flowering Rush (Butomus umbellatus). Some species of rare orchids are linked to these environments.
In spring, the outer areas are characterized by the yellow color of the Paleyellow Iris (Iris pseudarocus).
The fringe areas, where the water is shallow, house the Common Reed (Phragmites australis), which often grows together with the Narrow-leaved Cattail (Typha angustifolia) and the Great Fen-sedge (Cladium mariscus).
Where the water is deeper, the Common Club-rush (Schoenoplectus lacustris) can be found.
In the middle of the mortlakes, where water is more than half a meter deep, there are the White Water-lily (Nymphaea alba) and the Yellow Pond Lily (Nuphar luteum).
The plants belonging to the genera Myriophyllum, Ceratophyllum and other small floating plants like the European Frog-bit (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae), the Lesser Duckweed (Lemna minor), the Water Chestnut (Trapa natans), and the Yellow Floating Heart (Nymphoides peltata) cover with green the loops of stagnant water.
Yellow Water-lily
(photo by: PR Delta Po Veneto)