Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Freshwater |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Australia and New Zealand. |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Freshwater |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native (Horticultural / Cultivated Only) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | A herbaceous plant with prostrate and creeping growth habit under bright light, reaching 2 to 3cm under bright lighting. The plant grows to form a dense, carpet-like covering over the growing medium. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | The small, egg shaped leaves are smooth and arranged in opposite pairs along the stem. The leaves have an entire margin and are about 0.3 to 1.2cm long. |
| Stems | The stems have a creeping growth habit and develop adventitious roots at the nodes of the stem along which the leaves grow. |
| Cultivation | It grows best under bright light, addition of carbon dioxide in the water and should be grown in nutrient rich growing media. In poor light conditions, the stem will elongate and grow upright, making it unable to form a carpet along the growing medium in a aquarium. It is ideally grown in soft water with water pH levels of 5.5 to 7.0 and in water temperatures of 15 to 26°C. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscaping | It is a popular in its use as a foreground plant in freshwater aquariums as it forms a dense, carpet-like covering, making aquariums look aesthetically pleasing. |
|---|---|
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage, Ornamental Form |
| Landscape Uses | Aquarium / Aquascape |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Lots of Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Fast |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Waterlogged Soils |
| Pruning | The plant needs to pruned or else the fast growing stems may grow on top of each other, blocking off light to lower parts of the plant, causing the plant to detach from the growing medium. |
| Propagation Method | Stem Cutting (Herbaceous), Stolon / Runner |
| Propagation Method Remarks | Propagate via the stem cuttings of the runners, plant the stems in groups of three to four and use a pair of tweezers to push the stems and roots into the soil but take care to leave the leaves exposed. |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 31429 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 5826 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |