Photo: Ernst Schütte, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Brazilian waterweed
Egeria densa Planch.
20–30 cm
Height in the aquarium
medium to high
Light
low
CO₂ needs
20–24 °C
Ideal temperature
Water parameters
Understand these values- Position
- background
- Propagation
- fragmentation, cuttings
- Grows emersed
- no
In the wild
Overview
Its closely set leaves, arranged in whorls, give the stems a dense look. This South American plant has long been widespread in the hobby and can grow rooted or floating. Its vigorous growth uses up the available nutrients and quickly builds a planted background.
- Scientific name
- Elodea densa Current valid name; in the hobby: Egeria densa
- Classification
- Alismatales › Hydrocharitaceae
- IUCN Red List
- Not evaluated (NE)
Natural habitat
Southern South America
Observations (GBIF) and localities Native countries Introduced in Rivers and lakes
- Native countries
- Introduced by people
Outside its native range, in 54 countries:
An aquarium plant must never reach the wild: throwing away cuttings or emptying a tank into a stream can be enough to establish it.
Countries: Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP). Dots: GBIF observations in the native countries.
In the aquarium
Growing in the aquarium
It prefers fairly cool, mineral-rich water, while tolerating more heat for a while. Keep space between the stems and renew the group with cuttings when it grows too tall. To the naked eye the leaves look almost smooth, unlike those of Egeria najas, which are more visibly toothed: check the plant before comparing their needs.
Sources:Flowgrow Tropica GBIF POWO (Kew) · Base map: Natural Earth