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Re: Aquatic plants that plant themselves
I had some Aponogeton crispus that produced a bunch of seeds that floated
around a while and then germinated and sank. They produced several leaves
and roots and a number of them planted themselves. They got one root in
the gravel and then pulled the crown down to the gravel surface. They
started with the crown about an inch above the gravel, but in a few weeks
it was pulled right down to the surface. I don't know how they did it.
Recently I saw some Crypotcoryne balansae do the same thing. I had
uprooted a number of plants and left them floating in a 15 gallon tank. I
got all tied up with work and they floated for a month. Then I had a
little time and I put a tray of soil under them, but then work got me all
tied up again and I never had time to plant them. (Work is the curse of
the drinking class!:) Over the next three months they all planted
themselves by the same mysterious process, pulling their crowns down as
much as four inches. Formerly straight roots would develop bends after a
newer root penetrated the soil, so it looks as if the new roots were doing
the pulling, although I can't imagine how they did it.
I wonder how many other aquatic plants can plant themselves. Has anybody
else seen this happen?
Paul Krombholz Tougaloo College, Tougaloo, MS 39174