Guide to the Selections of Plants for Floating Wetlands

Emergent plants are strategically placed on a floating mat above the water’s surface in Constructed Floating Wetlands (CFWs). This arrangement facilitates their growth and establishment in deeper waters, with the uptake of nutrients and the creation of a microcosm with biofilm to enhance the mineralization, in addition to aesthetic appearance and ecosystem. Screening suitable emergent plant species is crucial as it affects the effectiveness of removing pollutants and maintaining the overall health of the ecosystem. The criteria include the availability of plants in the country to ensure local adaptation, the non-invasive nature of plants to prevent disruption of aquatic ecosystems, preference for terrestrial growth for better control and biomass accumulation, preference for perennial life cycles to enable controlled biomass harvest and efficient nutrient removal, and adaptation to submerged conditions for effective nutrient absorption. The plant selection process follows three steps, literature review, preliminary screening process, and weighted scoring as per the criteria. Based on the weighted score, the most suitable plants can be selected.