50 "Rosette" Plants
Description
This article is from the Aquaria: Plants FAQ, by multiple authors.
50 "Rosette" Plants
These plants reproduce vegetatively (asexually) by runners or stalks,
which you can usually cut after the new plant is large enough to grow
on its own. Like stem plants, many will grow emersed and produce
flowers in that state. Generally, they prefer slightly-soft acidic
water (2-3dKH, pH 5.5-7).
Anubias [LOW]
72-82F (22-28C). Not really a rosette plant, Anubias all have a
creeping rhizome that grows very slowly, throwing out new
leaves as it grows. The plant is built like a tank, some having
reported keeping them in a closet for six months in a plastic
bag yet still surviving. It is also one of the most expensive
aquarium plants. If grown emersed, they may produce larger
leaves, and will grow faster, and flowers will produce seeds.
Anubias will frequently flower underwater, but not seed. You
can grow the roots in gravel, or even train the rhizome to grow
on bogwood like Java fern does. (TAG 6:2) Most commonly kept
species is A. barteri var. nana, the smallest Anubias, which
has egg-shaped leaves and makes a great foreground plant in
medium-to-large aquariums. A. barteri var. barteri looks
similar to the nana variety, but with bigger leaves. A.
congensis, A. lanceolata and others grow very tall and make
good background plants. They can sometimes be seen in better
stores.
Aponogeton [MED]
Tuber. Needs rest period (triggered after blooming? drops its
leaves), except for hybrid crispus. Easy beginner plant.
Foreground plant singly, or background in groups. Most species
flower by sending up a stalk with single or double-spike and
seed easily. (Grows very slowly from seeds, and you must
protect the young seedlings from fish.) (TAG 4:3) Oft seen
Species:
+ bouvianus
+ crispus: up to 20" (50cm) tall, red to green leaves; easy
starter plant, often sold as bulbs at Wal-Mart. Single-spike
flower stem, slightly-undulating leaf margins.
+ elongatus,
+ ulvaceus: 10-20" (25-50cm) wavy light green leaves,
twin-spiked flower.
+ undulatus: 16" (40cm) slightly-undulating leaves, smooth in
low light. Flowers rarely.
Aponogeton madagascariensis (Madagascar Lace Plant) [HIGH]
Very desired plant because of its 6-18" leaves which are
actually a lace-like skeleton. Pink self-fertile flowers on
double-spiked stalk. Likes rich substrate. Observe dormancy
period! Dies in water over 80F. Difficult plant to grow.
Barclaya longifolia (orchid lily) [HIGH]
10-20" (25-50cm) delicate brownish or olive-green leaves,
moderately-undulated margins. Likes warmed substrate and warm
aquariums (75-82F). Foreground single plant. Often rots on
transplant. Flowers and seeds easily by sending a stalk to the
surface, or will remain submerged and closed (seeds still
viable). Very difficult to grow. (TAG 4:1).
Crinum ("onion bulb") [MED]
As the name implies, it grows from a bulb and looks like a
scallion. Bright-green leaves are huge 20-40" (50-100cm), and
recommended only for large aquariums. Does better in bright
light.
Cryptocoryne [LOW] (most species)
Shocks on transplant, takes up to months to adjust to new tank,
so don't move them once you've planted them. Crypt rot caused
by sudden water chemistry/quality changes. Spreads by rhizome;
new plants develop at nodes. -> Not a good beginner plant.
Often sold potted in rockwool, which reduces the above shocks.
Usually prefers acidic water. Some species will not tolerate
high light. Requires iron fertilization and likes rich
substrate. (TAG 4:1, 4:2, 5:1, 5:2, 5:3, 5:4) Oft-seen species:
+ affinis: emerald-green 4-12" (10-30cm) leaves, red
undersides. Foreground plant in large aquariums or center
plants in small tanks. Grows OK in alkaline water.
+ balansae: likes higher light?
+ becketii: likes higher light?
+ lutea: easier crypt to grow.
+ walkeri
+ wendtii: easier crypt to grow. bronze, red, green varieties.
wrinkled leaves. Up to 8" tall. Adaptable to high light and
will grow with CO2.
Echinodorus (Amazon swords) [MED]
Most are good as single highlight plant, or background groups
in large aquariums. Like high levels of fertilizer. Can grow
emersed. Reproduce by adventitious plants on end of stalks
runners, or root division, depending on species. (TAG 4:5, 5:5,
7:1, 7:5) Common species:
+ bleheri, paniculatus, amazonicus: Your generic amazon swords,
usually available in small, medium or large. Light green
leaves can be over 20" (50cm). Produces plantlets directly on
the flower stalk.
+ cordifolius (radican sword): heart-shaped leaves. Likes being
emersed; will flower in open-top aquarium. Sends floating
leaves if illumination is low.
+ major/maior (ruffle sword)
+ osiris (melon sword): blood-red slightly-undulate leaves.
+ parviflorus (tropico sword): smaller variety.
+ tenellus, quadricostatus (pygmy chain sword): leaves up to
6", 72-86F. Fast reproduction by runners; can create a lawn
on large enough tank. Small plants; nice foreground display.
Lemna (duckweed, green plague) [FLOATING] [FAST GROW]
Tiny (1/4") plant with a pair of leaves and a root. Reproduces
very quickly. A very noxious weed, hard to eradicate, and most
fish don't like to eat it. Try a floating fern such as Salvinia
instead of this one.
Lilaeopsis novae-zelandiae ("micro sword") [HIGH]
64-77F. This plant sold under this name is probably L.
braziliensis, a South American Liaeopsis. It slowly spreads out
in thick "turf" of grass, about three 1-3" long light green
grass-like leaves per plant. Nice spawning medium, foreground
plant.
Nuphar (spatterdock) [HIGH]
Water lily-like plant. Usually sold as rhizome end-cutting,
which rots away in a month. Likes colder temperatures.
Nymphaea (Water Lily, tiger lotus) [HIGH]
Bulb. Delicate leaves, colors varying from red to green with
possible mottled spots, depending on the variety. Pinch off
floating leaves if you want only submerged ones. Reproduction
is by blooms, or side-tubers from the main bulb. Need 3-5
floating leaves for it to bloom.
Nymphoides aquatica (banana plant) [HIGH]
Olive-colored Heart-shaped leaves that look superficially like
water lily, and banana-like tubers on roots. Plant by sticking
the tubers 1/3 in the gravel. Prefers lower temperatures.
Throws out floating leaves if light and fertilization is good.
Pistia stratiotes (water lettuce) [HIGH] [FLOATING]
Very demanding plant that prefers full sun (where it will grow
the size of actual lettuce) over aquarium conditions (where it
might be the size of a quarter). Reproduces by runners. Buy at
water garden supply stores.
Sagittaria (sag, arrowhead)
Straight-bladed green grass. Many different varieties, some
small foreground plants, some rather big. Hardy. Propagates by
runner. S. subulata grows 4-24" leaves and throws up small
white flowers in shallow water. 63-82F.
Valisneria [MED] [HI pH]
Grass. Reproduction by runners. Some find it grows wildly, then
mostly dies off, in a cycle. Wide temperatures 59-86F. V.
spiralis (Italian val) has ribbon-like leaves up to 20" (50cm)
and throws up a spiral stalk when flowering. V. tortifolia
grows "corkscrew" leaves, hence its name Corkscrew val. Other
common species: V. gigantica (Jungle Val).
Wolffia (watermeal)
Similar to duckweed (Lemna), but even smaller.
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