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Re: Reproducing E. horemani




>From: ac554 at freenet_carleton.ca (David Whittaker)
>Date: Fri, 15 Mar 1996 06:57:55 -0500
>Subject: Reproducing Echinodorus horemani
>
>Has anyone attempted to produce plantlets from E. horemani? The plant
>is several years old and has never produced plantlets or a flower
>stalk. I've checked several books and believe it to be E. horemani.
>Should I allow the whole plant to float or should I cut the rhysome
>and let it float in the hope that plantlets will sprout.
>
I have had a plant of E. horemani in an undisturbed 55 gallon tank for 10
years.  About 5 years ago a new plant showed up on the rhizome of the old
one, and it has headed off in its own direction.  The two plants are now
about a foot apart.  I havn't changed any of the water for the last 5 or 6
years.  The plants look all right, but the fish are beginning to look a
little wrinkled up, like prunes.  (I really ought to give them a partial
water change this spring break!)  I have given the tank 16 hour days, but
have never seen an inflorescence.  My favorite book, The Complete Guide to
Water Plants, by Helmut Muhlberg says regarding this species, "In long-day
conditions the inflorescences grow up to the water level.  If the lighting
periods are only moderate flower stems curve and grow near the bottom.
Propagation from separated adventitious plantlets."

This makes it sound like a long day plant, and perhaps mine is not getting
enough light.  I have 2 ordinary 40 watt T-12 fluorescents, and I plan to
upgrade to 4 T-8 bulbs during the next few weeks.

I got my plant from a friend in San Diego, who had it growing partially
emersed in tubs in his back yard.  The plants he had were all sending out
inflorescences that had small plantlets growing from every node.  Perhaps
growing it partially emersed will encourage it to send up a flower stalk,
or perhaps it was just the bright light.

I have heard that cutting up the living part of the rhizome into about 1
inch long sections and floating them will result in some plantlets forming.


Good luck!

Paul Krombholz                  Tougaloo College, Tougaloo, MS  39174