Photo: Wolffia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Lesser water-plantain
Baldellia ranunculoides (L.) Parl.
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Height in the aquarium
medium to high
Light
low
CO₂ needs
10–25 °C
Ideal temperature
Water parameters
Understand these values- Position
- midground, foreground
- Propagation
- runners, seeds, separating offshoots
- Grows emersed
- yes
In the wild
Overview
This plant of European wetlands forms a rosette. In the open air it bears lance-shaped leaves and small pale flowers; underwater the foliage becomes narrow and linear. The group includes several closely related forms, some of which produce runners while others stay as rosettes.
- Scientific name
- Baldellia ranunculoides (L.) Parl.
- Classification
- Alismatales › Alismataceae
- IUCN Red List
- Near threatened (NT)
Natural habitat
North Africa, Europe, West Asia
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
It is mainly of interest for a cool-water aquarium. Temperatures above 20 °C are mentioned, but there are few reports of growing it underwater. Watch the exact form of your plant and how it spreads: the differences between subspecies affect its growth and mean a carpet of runners cannot be promised every time.
Sources:Flowgrow GBIF POWO (Kew) · Base map: Natural Earth