Photo: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Alternanthera aquatica
(D.Parodi) Chodat
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Height in the aquarium
medium to high
Light
low
CO₂ needs
18–30 °C
Tolerated temperature
Water parameters
Understand these values- Position
- floating
- Propagation
- cuttings
- Grows emersed
- yes
In the wild
Overview
This South American plant grows long floating shoots whose swollen internodes hold air. In marshes and on banks, its roots anchor in the mud and its stems rise above the water. Its sprawling habit sets it apart from the small Alternanthera usually planted in groups.
- Scientific name
- Alternanthera aquatica (D.Parodi) Chodat
- Classification
- Caryophyllales › Amaranthaceae
- IUCN Red List
- Not evaluated (NE)
Natural habitat
Tropical South America, southern South America
Observations (GBIF) and localities Native countries Rivers and lakes
- Native countries
- Introduced by people
No introduction reported outside its native range.
Countries: Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP). Dots: GBIF observations in the native countries.
In the aquarium
Growing in the aquarium
Allow plenty of room: in the wild its shoots can reach several metres. It suits a spacious setup that lets it grow at the surface better than a small submerged group. In nature it anchors in nutrient-rich muddy bottoms; avoid presenting it as just another red foreground plant.
Sources:Flowgrow GBIF POWO (Kew) · Base map: Natural Earth