"Guess this Plant" will help us all learn about different freshwater aquatic plants. Each week I will post a new plant photo. At the end of the week, I will post the name and description. See how many you can guess! :)

P.S. It's ok to do your own research on the Internet. That's what it's all about...learning. ;) Good luck!

Since it is already the end of the week or at least Friday, I will post a freebie. :)





Source:
Encyclopedia of Aquarium Plants
Peter Hiscock
Barron's Educational Series, 2003

Nice plant

Is this idea something ya'll think we should continue?

I think it's a cool idea... even tho I'm still using *faux* plants. :D

Maybe each of us could take a shot at a mystery post? That way, all of us can have opportunities to post as well as guess the mystery plant.

We should have a place for guessing post then :)

OK, from here on, we'll just put the "Guess this plant" plant here and start a new thread in the Planted Tank forum for the responses. It's Monday! Time to post a new plant. :D

Yes i agree.

I think that's a GREAT idea! I love it! Let's also include saltwater plants if anyone has some of those, too.

Yup.

Hey reefboy! How 'bout educating us in a saltwater plant this week? :)

:Beer:

How about I start us off since it's going so slow... here's a saltwater plant that I keep in my own tank (not my own pic though), see if you can guess what it is.

Is that like ones who belong in the calupera(typo) family? Or something like that.

It looks like a plastic plant. :lol:

Actually, it is a Hawaiian "Feather" Caulerpa and is really a type of algae.

SW plants mostly all look like plastic :) The spaghetti types looks more plastic.

Very good both of you... it is feather caulerpa...

Description

Branches, feather-like, flattened, and upright, 3 - 5 cm high, rising from a creeping stolon (runner), 1 - 2mm in diameter, anchored by rhizoids to the substrate. Branchlets oppositely attached to midrib, flattened, slightly curved upwards and tapered at both base and tip. Midrib is slightly flattened, appearing oval in cross-section. Light green to yellow green.



This species resembles another native Hawaiian Caulerpa species, C. taxifolia. C. sertularioides is more delicate and the branchlets are rounded, compared to the flattened branchlets of C. taxifolia. The rising branches are also more rounded toward apices, compared to the more angular, squared-off branches of C. taxifolia.



Structural Features

Thallus non-septate, coenocytic, traversed by trabeculae, which are extensions of cell wall; reproduction vegetative and sexual, latter anisogamous. Gametes liberated through papillae that develop on frond or occasionally on frond.



Habitat

This delicate plant is usually found in warm, quiet waters in tide pools or on sandy, calm reef flats. It anchors to sandy bottoms or coral rubble by the creeping rhizoids.



Distribution

Hawai‘i: Northwest Hawaiian Islands, O‘ahu, Kaua‘i.

Mechanism of Introduction: Indigenous to Hawai‘i.

Worldwide: Pacific Mexico, Caroline Islands, Micronesia, North Marianas, Marshall Islands, Gilbert Islands, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, Japan, China, Australia, Philippines, Tahiti, Indonesia, Indian Ocean, Caribbean to Brazil.



Ecology/Impact

Little information has been recorded on Caulerpa sertularioides. This green alga is a native of Hawai‘i, and is quite common throughout the world. The Hawaiian version is small and delicate and grows in small patches in quiet, warm waters on reef flats.



This species is an unassuming, uncommon alga that can easily be mistaken for C. taxifolia. C. taxifolia is on invasives lists elsewhere in the world because of its highly invasive nature. Though not an invasive in Hawaiian waters, C. taxifolia communities should be watched for invasive tendencies. For this reason, it is important to differentiate between the two species.



The extensive rhizoid system of C. sertularioides aids in nutrient acquisition from sediments. Similar to other Caulerpa species, recruitment primarily occurs by fragmentation, but C. sertularioides also reproduces sexually.

This little plant should be a familiar one....

Yep, a banana plant

Here's the pic and the info:



I have read where Banana Plants aren't really considered aquatic plants, yet it was included in my Aquatic Plants book.

Source:
Encyclopedia of Aquarium Plants
Peter Hiscock
Barron's Educational Series, 2003

While the text states the plant may not last in an aquarium, it naturally caused me to wonder why. Any ideas?

Thinking about variety, I thought perhaps we could take a look a brackish water plants. While doing research, I found that several plants are considered safe for brackish water that we also use frequently in freshwater tanks. The Banana Plant above is one of them. Here is another. Can you guess this plant?

Hair Grass, Genus Eleocharis

The tidbits below are from a very good article by Bob Fenner on WetWebMedia:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/PlantedTksSubWe.../eleocharis.htm

Eleocharis acicularis
Synonyms: Heleocharis acicularis, Scripus acicularis, S. chaeta, S. radicans, Eleocharis radicans, E. rivularis, et al..

Natural Distribution & Ecology: Worldwide with the exception of the tropics. Temperatures from the sixties to low eighties F.

Physical Description: Thin (1/32") leaves 4-10 inches tall underwater (2-3 inches in terrestrial/bog applications), without apical plantlets. The thin stalks growing in small bunches of two to sixteen; with many roots

Eleocharis vivipara
Synonyms: E. prolifera.
Natural Distribution & Ecology: Southeastern U.S.
Physical Description: Called "umbrella grass" for its habit of producing young plantlets at the tips of its leaves; leaves 16-24 inches long, 1/8" thick.

Eleocharis minima
Natural Distribution & Ecology: South & Central America, tropical Africa. A cooler water species than the similar E. vivipara; temperatures to the low seventies.
Physical Description: Thread thin (1/32") leaves, 8-12 inches in length (underwater grown), often with adventitious plantlets growing at their tips.

Eleocharis parvula
Natural Distribution & Ecology: North American coasts, Cuba, Europe, Africa.
Physical Description: Needle like leaves 2-3 inches long, with tiny rosettes of leaves at their joints. A great plant for creating a lawn-like effect.

Pests, Parasites, Disease:
Algal overgrowth can be a big problem here. Take care to keep lighting, nutrient availability and the needs of desiraable plant material in balance.

Cultivation Notes:
Place small groups an inch or more apart to allow for fill-in with lateral runners. To stimulate growth and reproduction, occasionally thin stands and replant.

Substrate/Soil: Mineral clay and peaty loam-rich soil mixed with finer gravel.

Light/Lighting (intensity, spectrum, duration): 20-30k lumens.

pH, KH, Other Chemical: For all species, acidic to slightly alkaline water (pH 6.0-7.2), to mild hardness (KH to 10).

Temperature Range: Per the species. Tropicals: to low 80's. Of those listed all but E. minima.

Species Kept With: Other light-loving species such as Sagittaria, Vallisneria, Echinodorus. Also mix well with crypts.

Trimming: Cutting, pulling of brownish, dying material, replanting of healthy bunches.

Propagation:
Mostly asexual by separating batches that have grown in by way of runners and for viviparous species, separation of plantlets on leaf axils and replanting.

Plants can be made to flower by removing to damp soil conditions. Blossoms are small egg-shaped spikes on squarish stem (illustration). Fruits as achenes; with deep grooves.

Acquisition/Import Notes:
Take care that new plants do not have crushed stems, nor that they have started to rot; a sign of unrecoverable loss.

cool. plant. I should give it a try for my guppy tank :)