Photo: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Floating water sprite
Ceratopteris pteridoides (Hook.) Hieron.
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Height in the aquarium
medium to high
Light
low
CO₂ needs
22–28 °C
Ideal temperature
Water parameters
Understand these values- Position
- floating
- Propagation
- plantlets on the leaves, spores
- Uses
- spawning site
- Grows emersed
- yes
In the wild
Overview
This surface fern has thick, spongy leaf stalks that keep the leaves afloat. The young leaves are entire, then the adults develop broad lobes with a triangular outline. Many plantlets may appear in the notches of older leaves.
- Scientific name
- Ceratopteris pteridoides (Hook.) Hieron.
- Classification
- Polypodiales › Pteridaceae
- IUCN Red List
- Not evaluated (NE)
Natural habitat
South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia, North America, Central America, Caribbean, tropical 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
Grow it at the surface or as a marsh plant on damp soil; it does not last fully submerged. Leave room for the foliage. The plantlets formed on old leaves are used to propagate it. Emersed growing with plenty of light and a rich soil favours the fertile fronds.
Sources:Flowgrow GBIF POWO (Kew) · Base map: Natural Earth