In the preface, Academician Chen Yiyu points out that this atlas “lays the foundational framework for the conservation of China’s aquatic plant resources,” while Academician Hong Deyuan believes it “provides a Chinese model for global biodiversity conservation.” The International Association for Plant Taxonomy (IAPT) has included it in its recommended list of “Core Botanical Works in the Asia-Pacific Region.”

★ The book has been included by the International Association for Plant Taxonomy in the recommended list of core botanical works for the Asia-Pacific region. Its English edition is hailed as a milestone in the study of the aquatic plant flora of East Asia and has been designated as a recommended title for library collections by institutions such as the Wuhan Documentation Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Since 2022, the book has been promoted and used as a supplementary reading material for aquatic ecology courses at multiple universities.

★ Over several decades, the research team conducted systematic field surveys across the country, collecting and identifying thousands of specimens. This extensive fieldwork provides a solid foundation for the book, with detailed and robust research data that ensure both its authority and scientific rigor.

★ For the first time, the book systematically integrates the aquatic plant groups listed in the 2021 National List of Key Protected Wild Plants, comprehensively covering 885 species of aquatic higher plants in China. It also establishes a separate catalog for alien species, making the species catalog both comprehensive and innovative.

Since the 2000s, the research team has conducted systematic field surveys across the country, collecting and identifying thousands of specimens. After the Chinese edition was first published in 2017, the team spent four years completing the English translation and compilation, with the English edition being published and released in December 2021.

The book is divided into three parts: Species Catalogue: This section provides a comprehensive listing of 885 species (including varieties and subspecies) of aquatic higher plants found in China, encompassing bryophytes, pteridophytes, gymnosperms, and angiosperms, which belong to 240 genera and 87 families. A separate catalogue chapter is dedicated to alien invasive species.

Taxonomic System: Each family is accompanied by genus- and species-level identification keys, and some taxonomic groups have been revised based on the latest advances in molecular biology. Species descriptions include morphological characteristics, flowering and fruiting periods, geographic distribution, and habitat types.

Visual Presentation: The book adopts an image-centric layout, with each species illustrated by a full-plant photograph, close-up images highlighting key taxonomic features (such as inflorescences and transverse sections of fruits), and photographs of the plant’s natural habitat in the wild. All images were taken in the field by the authors themselves.

This book introduces the plant diversity in China’s aquatic ecosystems and is richly illustrated with exquisite, first-hand photographs taken by the authors over many years. With its combination of text and images, the book provides foundational data and scientific guidance for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in wetlands, as well as for the restoration of aquatic vegetation and the integrated management of water pollution.

In terms of format, for each species, in addition to concise textual descriptions, the book primarily uses images to present the key diagnostic features for plant identification, including detailed close-ups of flowers, fruits, branches, leaves, and other structures. This enables non-taxonomists—ordinary readers—to identify plants using the illustrated guide. At the same time, the book also includes maps showing the main distribution areas of each species within China, thereby combining academic rigor, aesthetic appeal, and public education.

Ferns
Isoetaceae
Alpine Isoetes
Yungui Isoetes
Taiwanese Isoetes
Chinese Isoetes
Eastern Isoetes
Equisetaceae
Horsetail
Stream Horsetail
Marsh Horsetail
Bamboo-like Horsetail
Marsileaceae
Salviniaceae
Water Spangle
Azolla
Fine-leaved Azolla
Pteridaceae
Bracken Fern
Sharp-leaved Bracken Fern
Thick-stemmed Water Fern
Water Fern
...
Gymnosperms
Angiosperms—Dicotyledons
Angiosperms—Monocotyledons
English Index
Chinese Index