The effects of soil flooding on gas exchange and photosystem 2 (PS2) activity were analyzed in leaves of Phragmites australis, Carex cinerascens, and Hemarthria altissima. Pronounced decrease in net photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance with flooding was found only in C. cinerascens. No significant changes in PS2 activity were observed in all three species which suggests that the photosynthetic apparatus was not damaged. Among the three species, H. altissima is better adapted to flooding than P. australis and C. cinerascens. and M. Li, D. Yang, W. Li.