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Not too usual, Azolla has a slightly smaller leaf than duckweed as well as the formation reminds one of a magnified snow crystal.

The colouring is sage green, varying to a dull red. This plant can be termed as water or fairy moss.

Vallisneria spiralis is also recognized by the names of eel grass, tape grass, and channel grass. This plant is a firm favourite of most aquarists, and definitely one of mine. It is a tall plant, and well suited to form a background for the smaller ones.

It’s, actually, just the plant one would expect to discover in an under-water scene. The tall, grass-like leaves are a light green in colour and rise vertically from the crown to the top of the water, where they float along the surface.

One of the very best oxygenators, Vallisneria spiralis also has the virtue of being simple to grow. The technique of propagation is by runners. These runners grow out from the crown along the sand, and new plants shoot up from the ends of them. It’s feasible in a well-established tank to remove a plant and discover a entire string of them connected together. It’s, as a result, advisable when removing plants of this nature from the aquarium to snip the runners prior to really removing the plant.

The species are separate, either male or female. The female flowers are on lengthy stems which reach to the surface. The male flowers are attached to the base of the leaves, which, when ripe, turn out to be detached and rise to the surface, where they float among the females fertilising them. The stem of the female flower coils up spirally under water, and it’s from this that the name is derived.

Don’t cover the crown with sand when planting, leave about 1/8 in. totally free.

Vallisneria torta is a variation of V. spiralis. The somewhat broader translucent leaves twist in a slow twirl like a corkscrew, and this plant is most likely much better recognized as ‘corkscrew val’. This species doesn’t grow so tall as V. spiralis. V. spiralis var. gigantea is an very big selection growing up to 6 ft. under favourable conditions, with leaves between 1/2 in. and 2 in. in width. It thrives in tropical aquaria in which a temperature of 85°F is maintained.

Despite the fact that sea cypress isn’t actually a plant, its use within the aquarium justifies its being included under this heading.

Sea cypress is, actually, the external skeleton of a hydroid polyp. It’s discovered naturally within the tidal waters of Holland, Germany, Iceland and Fantastic Britain and along the coasts of the North Sea. In this state it has a mossy, delicate appearance. It grows on the sea bed, occasionally in bunches or beds up to 10 in. in depth.

The skeleton is made of chitin-the exact same substance that forms the outer case of insects. The inhabitants are removed by a procedure of washing and drying, which leaves the skeleton clean and much more or less dehydrated. It’s in this form that it’s procurable for the use of tropical fish lovers. When dropped into an aquarium the ‘feathers’ spread out to make a life-like ornamental plant.

If a single ‘feather’ is viewed under a low power microscope, the small pockets that once housed the tiny polyp could be seen fairly clearly.

Sea cypress could be utilized within the aquarium merely to make a decorative piece, but its actual value lies in its use as a breeding ‘plant’.

When utilized as a breeding plant it’s not essential to cover the bottom of the aquarium with sand. The cypress could be anchored with a little piece of lead attached by squeezing to the base. The buoyant stems will then flow upwards, making an perfect egg catcher or refuge for livebearers.

An additional benefit of sea cypress is the reality that it could be stored when dry in a paper bag, and appears to last indefinitely if handled carefully. It’s just the factor to maintain handy when natural plants are challenging to obtain.

After utilizing for a specific spawning, sea cypress can either be washed gently under a running tap and returned to the aquarium, or thoroughly dried and stored.
It is also recognized as sea moss and white weed.

Sagittaria is a similar plant to Vallisneria. The name Sagittaria is derived from the arrow-like form of the leaves, causing it to be named after Sagittarius, the mythological archer.

You will find three primary species, Sagittaria natans, Sagittaria gigantea, and Sagittaria subulata. Sagittaria natans is a moderate sized plant, and well suited to tanks of about 12 inch in depth. The leaves generally reach a length of between 6 in. and 9 in. This plant isn’t confined to tropical aquaria, and has been for numerous years utilized by goldfish fanciers.

Sagittariagigantea, as its name suggests, is a a lot larger plant, averaging 15 in. in length, and also the leaves are 0.5 in. or much more in width. When well rooted, they’re sturdy and will stand fairly a great deal of knocking from your net whenever you are chasing your fish.

Sagittaria subulata differs from the other two species in numerous respects. The colour is a darker green, and also the leaves have a a lot straighter form and are generally slightly thicker.

Sagittaria lorata is another species suitable for aquarium use. The oval or oblong leaves float along the surface.

It could be propagated by runner in a comparable method to Vallisneria spiralis. Sagittaria should not be planted within the exact same aquarium as Vallisneria, nevertheless, as they rarely do well when together.

It has been noticed with Sagittaria that when the aquarium is broken down for replanting, the sand is still clean and sweet, which indicates that the plant roots really assist to purify the sand.

Nuphar is an ideal plant to use as a ‘feature’ within the planting arrangement. It has big, lengthy leaves which are membraneous and coloured a delicate, translucent light green. These attractive leaves are supported on firm stems which spread out from the root base (rhizome).

Nuphar is greatest planted in water at a depth not less than 6 in., and no deeper than about 14 in. As the plant is somewhat buoyant, it ought to be set firmly into the sand. Light isn’t a extremely essential factor in growing this plant, but some, needless to say, is essential.

A couple of species are of European and Asiatic origin, but most of the species are North American.