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This drawing illustrates a transect - i.e. an ideal section - of the vegetation typical of a freshwater wetland, showing the different vegetation belts.

(1) In the central area of the pond, over 0,8 - 1m deep and where penetration of the sun ray's is limited, plant life consists mainly of algae or phanerogams (hydrophytes). Some of the latter, e.g. Frogbit (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae), are free-floating by means of their leaves and are not rooted to the substrate; others, like the Rigid Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum) and the Southern Bladderwort (Utricularia australis) live on the substrate or just on the water surface. Yet others, e.g. the White Water-lily (Nymphaea alba) and Yellow Water-lily (Nuphar lutea) are rooted in the pond substrate, but their leaf blades reach the surface where they float, this is why this vegetation belt is sometimes called the "lamina belt".
(2) Moving towards the edge of the pond, as the water gradually becomes shallower, conditions are more suitable for a vegetation belt mainly composed of "helophytes". These wetland plants are rooted in the substrate but their aerial parts emerge from the water. These include the Great Sedges (Carex sp.), Marsh Reeds (Phragmites australis), Bulrushes or Reed-mace (Typha sp.), Club or Spike Rushes (Schoenoplectus lacustris) and Arrow-head (Sagittaria sagittifolia), all of which form a dense cover near the bank.
(3) On the outer edge of the marsh, where the water is only temporary, the helophytes form water meadows or gradually leave space to hygrophilous trees and bushes (Alders, Poplars, Willows, Ash). These can colonise water meadows to the point of forming true and proper hygrophilous woodland (4).