Glossostigma

• To: "'Aquatic Plants List'" <aquatic-plants at actwin_com>
• Subject: Glossostigma
• From: Bruce Hansen <bhansen at oznet02_ozemail.com.au>
• Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 08:17:38 +-1100
• Cc: "'Eng Chuah'" <hak at ozemail_com.au>, "'Shaun Winterton'" <s.winterton at ctpm_uq.edu.au>

Glossostigma elatinoides occurs naturally here in Australia in a variety of habitats, especially in perennial swamps in the high country. It tends to be marginal and extending well into submersed areas of the location. Although it seems to prefer a muddy substrate it is often found spreading around and between rocks in shallow running water. In my experience it requires a high light intensity and limited temperature. I grow it best outside in shallow trays (1-2" of worm castings covered with 1/2" of sand) with only an inch of water over it and full sun for a couple of hours each day.

I have a friend who grows it quite successfully in the aquarium situation  and it was very slow to spread until he added CO2 and it has done well since. I suspect this species is sensitive to prolonged temperatures above 26C  so it would not do for a Discus tank. 

There seems to be another species that I have seen in nature growing in shallow flowing water in the Koolatong River in Arnhem Land. This form has much broader leaves and is a deeper green in colour.

Bruce Hansen.
Brisbane.

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