Re: Hydrocotyle

[Thomas Barr <tcbiii at earthlink_net>]

> 
> 
> Does anyone know of a North American species in this genus that occurs in
> Florida?  My book doesn't have pictures of each species covered.
> 
> My comments on the plant in the aquarium.  I am in SC and I am keeping a
> native tank with Elassoma evergladei and E. okefenokee, Heterandria formosa,
> and Fundulus chrysotus.  The usual temperature in the tank is 65 F this time
> of year.  The Hydrocotyle sp. has really taken off.  I did not root it in the
> substrate, but have left it "floating."  At each node a dense root system has
> developed and the leaf stems come from the nodes.  The leaves seem healthy
> submerged and above the water.  The plant grows vigorously and the stems are
> thick.  Its introduction has transformed the behavior of the Elassoma sp.,
> which are now very active and venture into the upper regions of the tank
> instead of lurking in the substrate.  I added Flourish iron supplement to the
> water, which has a pH of 6.0-6.5, similar to the tannin-stained water at the
> collection site.  All the fish were collected with the plant.
> 
> I hope someone can enlighten me regarding this plant.
> 
> Thank you.
> 
> Dick Norwood
> Columbia, SC

Try H. umbellata
I might be a variety of H verticillata.

That's likely what it is.
Very common there.
Grows in hard clear waters, soft tannin stained waters, rivers, lakes, etc
oligotrophic and eutrophic waters, most often emergent. Pretty much anywhere
there's water. Road side ditches are often filled with this plant.

Regards, 
Tom Barr