Pond Flora
The most conspicuous plant of the Pond is the
Water-lily. Both the White (Nymphaea alba) and the Yellow (Nuphar lutea) species occur in Stephenstown Pond, Knockbridge. The White Water-lily has the biggest flower of any native wild species in Ireland, while the Yellow Water-lily has the biggest leaves of any Irish water-plant. The flowers tend to open only during sunshine, which may be an adaptation to facilitate insect pollination. The underwater stems of the Water-lily are fleshy and grow as deep as 6 feet below the surface of the pond. The stems are filled with air to keep their large leaves afloat.
The large mass of smaller floating leaves belongs to Pondweed (Potamogeton). Submerged (underwater) plants, such as Pondweed, are rooted in the mud and live entirely under the water. They are important for producing underwater oxygen and shelter. Amphibious Bistort (polygonum amphibium) lives on land, as well as in water. Emergent plants such as Water Plantain (Alisma plantago-aquatica) and Giant Horsetail (Equisetum telmateia) protrude rather than float their leaves and flowers. The are, however, still rooted in the mud. They live at the edge of Stephenstown Pond in extensive colonies.
Numerous kinds of Algae play an essential part in the ecology of freshwater habitats, providing food and oxygen for the pond inhabitants. Some types, such as Spirogyra, build up into dense masses. They may be seen around the shore and in shallow areas in Spring and Summer. In Stephenstown Pond, algae levels are controlled by fish, invertebrates, and microscopic floating animals called Zooplankton. The pond is a delicate ecosystem where balances change with the seasons, climatic variations, and water levels. Pollution could destroy this fragile balance too easily.
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