Our underwater worlds are home to many bizarre and beautiful plants. But life isn't always easy in these diverse and sometimes volatile environments. 

我们周围的水下世界是许多奇异的美丽植物的家园。不过在这种各异，有时候过于不稳定多变的环境中生存并不是件易事。

From the aquatic plants surviving the strong currents of Colombia's Rainbow River to giant water lilies fighting for light in Brazil's flooded Pantanal, these plants can thrive in adversity. 

从在哥伦比亚彩虹河的强劲水流中幸存下来的水生植物，到在巴西被洪水淹没的潘塔纳尔保护区中争抢阳光的巨型睡莲，这些植物都在逆境中茁壮成长着。

The Giant waterlilly

The spines on its underside help the plant to fight for space and defend itself against predators.

下方的刺有助于帮它争夺生存空间并保护自己免受捕食者的攻击。

The Giant Water Lily, Victoria amazonica, grows in the Pantanal region of Brazil. It starts as a little bud that grows up towards the surface of the water, before emerging into a beautiful lily pad that can span up to three metres wide. The plant's underside boasts girders and ribs to help support its huge structure. Its underwater stalks, which help to anchor the leaves, can reach up to eight metres in length.

巨型睡莲，拉丁学名Victoria amazonica，生长于巴西的潘塔纳尔保护区。最初它只是一朵向着水面生长的小花蕾，随后它就长成了一朵直径达3米的美丽睡莲花。这种植物的底部生长着像桁架和肋骨架一样的结构以帮助支撑住它庞大的身体。水下的茎则有助于固定叶子，叶子直径可达8米。

This lake has been completely over taken by lily pads who have successfully beaten most other competition for space.

这片湖面已经完全被睡莲占领了，它们击退了绝大多数想与它们争抢生存空间的对手。

The giant water lily has a system of girders and ribs that act as a structural support for its wide surface area.

这种植物的底部生长着像桁架和肋骨架一样的结构以帮助支撑住它宽阔的表面结构。

Macarenia clavigera

When the water level rises, and it has enough sunlight, the Macarenia clavigera plant bursts into a beautiful range of colours, turning the Caño Cristales river in Colombia into a liquid rainbow.

当水位上升又有足够的阳光时，Macarenia clavigera（虹河苔）会绽放出美丽的色彩，将哥伦比亚的Caño Cristales河变成一道液体彩虹。

Macarenia clavigera needs the correct environment to bloom which is why it remains dormant in certain seasons.

这种植物需要特定的环境才能开花，这导致它在一些季节会保持休眠。

Under the right conditions, it can turn fuchsia, purple, red or even yellow!

根据环境条件的变化，它可以变成紫红色、紫色、红色甚至是黄色！

Macarenia clavigera stick to the rocks of the river beds using a natural superglue.

这种植物用一种天然强力胶牢牢附着在河床的岩石上。

Water Hyacinth

This floating flower is found native to the Amazon Basin in South America. The Hyacinth can produce up to 20 flowers from one singular stalk, and rise up to 1m above the waterline.

这种漂浮的花原产于南美洲的亚马逊盆地。水葫芦可以从一根单一的茎上开出多达20朵花，并且可以延伸到超出水面1米的高度。

Water Hyacinths can produce as many as 20 flowers!

一根水葫芦茎可以开出多达20朵花！

Water Lettuce

The pantropical water lettuce, Pistia stratiote, can be found across all continents except Antarctica. In part thanks to its thick and spongy leaves, this aquatic plant is virtually unsinkable. Its roots are not attached to the riverbed, allowing it to travel with the river current. 

泛热带水浮莲，拉丁学名Pistia stratiote，生长于除南极洲外的所有其他大陆上。某种程度上来说，得益于它厚而海绵状的叶子，这种水生植物永远不会下沉。它的根并没有附着于河床上，而是整个植物随着水流流动。

Water lettuce roots float freely and provide shelter to small fish in rivers.

水浮莲的根自由漂浮着，也为河流中的小鱼提供了庇护所。

The leaves of water lettuce are spongy, helping it to float.

水浮莲的叶子结构是海绵状的，有助于它漂浮。