How Many Water Plants?
The plant kingdom consists of almost 1100 families of which 95 (about 9%) are higher plants such as mosses, ferns, and flowering plants. Among these 95 families are 390 aquatic and swamp plant genera, containing around 3500 species. There are at least 400,000 known plant species in the world today, so aquatic and swamp plants make up less than 1% of the total number of species in the plant world. Of these 3500 plants, only a fraction; approximately 500 to 1000 species are suitable for use in aquaria and terraria.
A Weed In The Aquarium
Although in its native India, Water Wisteria (Synnema Triflorum) is considered a weed, this plant remains a favorite among aquarium hobbyists. Found along river banks and in rice paddies of India and the Malay Peninsula, Water Wisteria had its aquarium debut in London in 1954. There are two distinct varieties of this plant: one which grows above water and one which grows completely submerged.
The latter variety is the one of interest to most hobbyists. This plant is bright green in color with large leaves - up to 6 inches long - and looks a little like Water Sprite (Ceratopteris Thalictroides). The leaves come in a wide variety of shapes: oval and elongated, divided and undivided, serrated and smooth-edged. There appears to be no systematic arrangement of the types of leaves, and each plant contains a colorful medley of various leaf designs.
Water Wisteria attains its maxmum size and brightest color when planted in fine sand containing mud or loam. It needs plenty of light, and the ideal water temperature is 79 degrees. Due to the rapid growth of this plant, regular trimming is required. If its leaves are allowed to reach the water surface, the plant immediately takes on its land form and loses its decorative value in the aquarium. Water Wisteria is usually sold in small shoots about 6-10 inches long. Under the right conditions, a mature plant will grow to about twice this length.
Water Hedge-An American Beauty
Water Hedge (Didiplis Diandra) is a beautiful water plant of the Lythraceae family which is available in pet stores. It looks somewhat like the marsh plant Heteranthera Zosteraefolia. The narrow, linear leaves are arranged crosswise on thin stems and branches and are pale green in color. The young leaves near the crown of the plant occasionally display a reddish tint. Tiny buds can be seen in Water Hedge growing in bogs or swamps, and greenish flowers sometimes appear in summer.
Water Hedge is native to the United States, where it grows almost everywhere from northern Minnesota to Florida. It is found both above water along river banks and completely submerged in flat ponds or flooded areas. Water Hedge was first introduced into Europe by Greenberg Nurseries in Florida. Since then, a new European variety has appeared: Water Purslane (Peplis Diandra).
Like mant other water plants, Water Hedge grows upward toward the surface, but it can easily be cultivated completely underwater in aquaria. This plant is excellant for crowded tanks, as it requires very little light. Water temperature should be kept above 68 degrees, and rich mulm or mud makes the best soil. It is easy to build up a thick clump of Water Hedge by snipping off and planting the young shoots which the plant sends out.
The Brazilian Pennywort
The Brazilian Pennywort (Hydrocotyle Leucocephala) is a beautiful aquatic plant from tropical South America which is rarily cultivated in aquaria. This plant is often confused with the European Pennywort (Hydrocotyle Vulgaris) and the Japanese Cardamine (Cardamine Lyrata). These two species must be kept in relatively cool water and require a great deal of light, causing problems in the winter months, when aquaria must be heated to keep fishes alive. The Brazilian Pennywort, on the other hand, does not require cool water and thrives under a wide range of water conditions.
There are several external differences between the European Pennywort and the Brazilian Pennywort. Like the American Pennywort (Hydrocotyle Verticillata), the European Pennywort has undivided, circular leaves, with the stems connected at the center of the underside of the leaf. The main stem of the European Pennywort runs parallel to the ground; the leaves grow upward on thin vertical stems. Leaves which do not reach the surface are smaller than those in direct contact with light and the atmosphere.
The main stem of the Brazilian Pennywort grows vertically, and the leaves sprout out on thin stems from either side of it, developing into floating leaves when they reach the surface. The plant also sends out side shoots and gradually loses its lower leaves as it grows. The leaves of the Brazilian Pennywort are circular and bright green, with dark green veins. They are slit from the outer edge to the central point where the stem is attached. From this point bundles of white root hairs sprout out, forming a decorative contrast to the green leaves.
The Brazilian Pennywort is a very hardy aquatic plant and can be kept in aquaria all year round within a broad range of water temperatures. It requires plenty of light and grows particularly well under artificial light. No special soil conditioning is necessary.
The Cryptocorynes
The genus Cryptocoryne includes a great variety of water plants from bogs and swamps in Southeast Asia. Generally hardy and easy to care for, the cryptocorynes, or "crypts" as they are sometimes called, are a favorite among aquarists around the world. The broad range of different sizes and shapes within this genus make it possible for the hobbyist to find a species to fit almost any tank and most crypts are priced low enough for aquarists on the srictest budgets. With all these advantages, plus their unique beauty, it's no wonder that cryptocorynes are among the most popular plants in aquaria today.
Most cryptocoryne species are rather slow-growing, a quality that makes them highly desirable for aquaria. They are generally undemanding in regard to light conditions and thrive in soft, slightly acid water; approximate hardness of 5dH, pH around 6.5, and a temperature range of between 68 - 86 degrees. Since crypts generally take a long time to root, often as much as 6 months, they should be planted in tanks with deep bottom layers, at least 4 inches and should be disturbed as little as possible during the first few months. A mixture of unwashed river sand and peat, loam, or clay makes an excellant soil for these plants, and a layer of detritus is valuable for root nourishment.
Here are some brief descriptions of a few of the many beautiful cryptocoryne species:
C. Affinis - Also known as C. Haerteliana, this plant is one of the fastest growing of the genus. Native to Mayaysia and Indonesia, it has long, tapered leaves of bright green with a slight blueish tinge. Height: up to 12 inches.
C. Balansae - One of the most attractive of the crypts, C. Balansae has long, narrow leaves similar to those of many Aponogeton species. The ribbon-like leaves are bright green in color, with a rough, corrugated textures. Native to Thailand, this plant grows to heights of up to 18 inches.
C. Beckettii - This crypt grows best under shady conditions. Leaves are long and flowing, with a reddish-brown to violet color. Sometimes referred to incorrctly as C. Cordata. Native to Ceylon.
C. Blassii - This is a stout, broad-leaved plant found primarily in Thailand. It may grow up to 24 inches in nature, but heights over 18 inches inaquaria are rare. Resembling C. Griffithii and C. Siamensis, this crypt has leaves which vary in color from dark olive to burgundy.
C. Johorensis - A Malaysian species, this plant has sharply, oval-shaped leaves with rough, serrated edges. the color is dependent on light conditions: olive green laeves turn brown or slightly reddish in more brightly lit aquaria.
C. Lingua - One of the smaller crypts, C. Lingua reaches heights of around 4 1/4 inches in aquaria. It comes from the island of Borneo and has green, oval-shaped leaves with rounded tips. Like C. Johorensis this is one of the lesser known species.
C. Thwaitesii - This cryptocoryne has serrated, leathery leaves which vary in shape from broad with a pointed tip to narrow and ribbon like. The color may be any shade from olive green to brown, and a distinctive mottled pattern appears on the leaves of mature plants. C. Thwaitesii grows to 6 inches and is native to Ceylon.
C. Wendtii - Although this plant is a relatively new import, it has quickly become one of the most popular cryptocoryne species. Found throughout Southeast Asia, C. Wendtii comes in a broad variety of different sizes, shapes and colors. All of the different forms are very easy to grow.
C. Willisii - This is one of the hardiest cryptocorynes and can be cultivated easily by beginners. A Ceylonese plant, C. Willisii grows to heights of around 9 inches. The leaves are long and thin, varying from pale green to light brown in color.
