Alternanthera reineckii
Encyclopedia
Alternanthera reineckii is a species of aquatic plant
. Several cultivars are used in the aquarium
trade.
This is a small herbaceous
plant, which when living in marsh conditions has two forms: emergent
(in which case the plant has grown out of the water or on the ground), and submersed (in which case the plant has grown underwater). The leaves
have a wide cross shape, lance late to elliptic, and they get thinner where the leafstalk should be, or they have a very short leafstalk. They are 1.5 inches (4cm) length and 0.6 inches (15mm) wide. The upper part of the leave is dark green to olive green, and the lower part is light green to light carroty. The total plant can reach up to 22 inches (55.8cm) in good conditions and can grow out of the water in suitable conditions.
A wide variety of leaf
colour forms are available, eg. 'Pink' (='roseafolia' / 'lilacina') but these seem to be at least partially influenced by light intensity.
Cultivation in aquariums it can be difficult. Needs a very bright light, a good substrate, nutriment rich water and additional CO2. Propagation is by cuttings, though it can be grown from seed. When purchasing for the aquarium
get plants that have been raised submerse. It tolerates a wide range of temperates down to about 63F (17C) and doesn't seem to be fussy as to water conditions. Cuttings can be left to float until they form roots and then planted in the substrate.
Aquatic plant
Aquatic plants are plants that have adapted to living in aquatic environments. They are also referred to as hydrophytes or aquatic macrophytes. These plants require special adaptations for living submerged in water, or at the water's surface. Aquatic plants can only grow in water or in soil that is...
. Several cultivars are used in the aquarium
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
trade.
This is a small herbaceous
Herbaceous
A herbaceous plant is a plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level. They have no persistent woody stem above ground...
plant, which when living in marsh conditions has two forms: emergent
Emergent
It may also mean:* Emergent , Neural Simulation Software* Emergent , a 2003 album by Gordian Knot* emergent plant, a plant which grows in water but which pierces the surface so that it is partially in air...
(in which case the plant has grown out of the water or on the ground), and submersed (in which case the plant has grown underwater). The leaves
Leaves
-History:Vocalist Arnar Gudjonsson was formerly the guitarist with Mower, and he was joined by Hallur Hallsson , Arnar Ólafsson , Bjarni Grímsson , and Andri Ásgrímsson . Late in 2001 they played with Emiliana Torrini and drew early praise from the New York Times...
have a wide cross shape, lance late to elliptic, and they get thinner where the leafstalk should be, or they have a very short leafstalk. They are 1.5 inches (4cm) length and 0.6 inches (15mm) wide. The upper part of the leave is dark green to olive green, and the lower part is light green to light carroty. The total plant can reach up to 22 inches (55.8cm) in good conditions and can grow out of the water in suitable conditions.
A wide variety of leaf
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
colour forms are available, eg. 'Pink' (='roseafolia' / 'lilacina') but these seem to be at least partially influenced by light intensity.
Cultivation in aquariums it can be difficult. Needs a very bright light, a good substrate, nutriment rich water and additional CO2. Propagation is by cuttings, though it can be grown from seed. When purchasing for the aquarium
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
get plants that have been raised submerse. It tolerates a wide range of temperates down to about 63F (17C) and doesn't seem to be fussy as to water conditions. Cuttings can be left to float until they form roots and then planted in the substrate.