Photo: Carlosar, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Broadleaf water sprite
Ceratopteris cornuta (P.Beauv.) Lepr.
—
Height in the aquarium
medium to high
Light
low
CO₂ needs
22–28 °C
Ideal temperature
Water parameters
Understand these values- Position
- background, midground, floating
- Propagation
- plantlets on the leaves, spores
- Uses
- spawning site, specimen plant
- Grows emersed
- yes
In the wild
Overview
In the trade this aquatic fern is recognised by its broadly lobed leaves, less finely cut than those sold as Ceratopteris thalictroides. The forms are nonetheless close and hard to tell apart botanically. It brings broad foliage to the tank rather than a network of small leaves on stems.
- Scientific name
- Ceratopteris cornuta (P.Beauv.) Lepr.
- Classification
- Polypodiales › Pteridaceae
- IUCN Red List
- Least concern (LC)
Natural habitat
West Africa, Central Africa, East Africa, Madagascar region, West Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia
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 can be grown floating or planted in the substrate. Provide medium to strong light and room for fast growth. The young plantlets that form on it are used to propagate it. The trade name alone does not guarantee a precise identification: some related ferns are hard to tell apart without examining their spores.
Sources:Flowgrow GBIF POWO (Kew) · Base map: Natural Earth