Photo: Salicyna, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
American spongeplant
Limnobium spongia (Bosc) Steud.
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Height in the aquarium
medium to high
Light
low
CO₂ needs
18–24 °C
Ideal temperature
Water parameters
Understand these values- Position
- floating
- Propagation
- fragmentation, runners
- Grows emersed
- yes
In the wild
Overview
This North American Limnobium has leaves that are more clearly heart-shaped and pointed than those of Limnobium laevigatum. It lives in calm or gently flowing water, but can also grow on mud as a marsh plant. It is grown less often today than its South American relative.
- Scientific name
- Hydrocharis spongia Current valid name; in the hobby: Limnobium spongia
- Classification
- Alismatales › Hydrocharitaceae
- IUCN Red List
- Not evaluated (NE)
Natural habitat
North America
Observations (GBIF) and localities Native countries Introduced in Rivers and lakes
- Native countries
- Introduced by people
Outside its native range, in 2 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
Let it take the surface rather than looking for a fully submerged stand. It spreads by runners, which lets you separate the young rosettes. Strong light is given for this entry. Do not automatically apply the growing habits of Limnobium laevigatum: the two species look alike, but differ in range and in tolerance of temperature.
Sources:Flowgrow GBIF POWO (Kew) · Base map: Natural Earth