Photo: Gabriel Jovêncio Ribeiro, CC BY 4.0, via iNaturalist
Floating primrose-willow
Ludwigia helminthorrhiza (Mart.) H.Hara
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Height in the aquarium
high
Light
low
CO₂ needs
25–30 °C
Ideal temperature
Water parameters
Understand these values- Position
- floating
- Propagation
- fragmentation, cuttings
- Grows emersed
- yes
In the wild
Overview
This floating American plant grows long stems, sometimes reddish leaves and strange white, spongy roots. These spindle-shaped breathing organs make it easy to recognise. In good conditions, white flowers with a yellow centre appear above the water.
- Scientific name
- Ludwigia helminthorrhiza (Mart.) H.Hara
- Classification
- Myrtales › Onagraceae
- IUCN Red List
- Not evaluated (NE)
Natural habitat
Central America, tropical South America
Observations (GBIF) and localities Native countries Introduced in Rivers and lakes
- Native countries
- Introduced by people
Outside its native range, in 1 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 needs a lot of light and a large free surface for its fast-branching stems. Anchoring it in a nutrient-rich substrate helps. It suits a large open-top tank or a paludarium better than a small gallery of submerged plants. Emersed growing is easier and favours flowering.
Sources:Flowgrow GBIF POWO (Kew) · Base map: Natural Earth