[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Re: Echinodorus tenellus
From: john wheeler <jcwheel76 at yahoo_com>
.....Several months ago, I purchased, from an online
dealer, some "E. tennellus". They said that it was
"grown submersed" but that was obviously a lie due to
the shape of the foliage and the little flowers that
came with it. After about 2-3 weeks the initial
foliage died away and the plant became much larger
than E. tennellus is supposed to get, about 8-12".
Outwardly, it appeared very similar to well grown
Sagittaria subulata pusilla, except that the runners
ran across the surface of the substrate just as any
chain sword. It was *very* productive, and soon over
ran the 10 gallon tank as well as grew to the surface
and more.
Anyway, here is my question. All of the online sources
show/advertise the same plant I had purchased before
as tennellus, as well as the retail operations where
I've seen it. If that is tennellus, what/where is the
plant that is described in all of the literature? The
one that has very narrow leaves, and grows only a few
inches.
The Barry James book suggests that there are several
"races and growing forms", and that the common plant
grows to 6" but that there are larger and smaller
forms.
So where do I find the shorter forms?
If your plant has relatively narrow leaves, looking very much like
sagitteria, then it might be E. bolivianus. If the leaves get a little
broader near their ends, then it could be E. quadricostatus. Even these two
species don't get leaves 8 to 12 inches long. Maybe you have the rare E.
angustifolius! I have sone E. tenellus, narrow leaved form, but it is only
one plant, losing a battle with some crypts in an emerse culture. I am
going to have to get it out before it dies and multiply it up.
Paul Krombholz, in central Mississippi, where we had tornado warnings and
heavy rains yesterday.