Water soldier or Water pineapple

Description:

A submerged aquatic plant native to Europe and northwestern Asia. In the summer this plant floats on the water surface with the leaves just above the surface. In the Autumn they become covered with a slimy secretion (calcium carbonate) and the whole plant sinks to the bottom to rise again in the Spring. Fossils have been found of this plant.

Habitat:

This type of plants were very common in the water cannals in marshy areas in the area of Giethoorn. This one was photographed in the marshes of Sint Jansklooster.