More "what the heck is this plant" questions

[centralharbor]

So, in addition to the sword that I got recently ( http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=175743 ), I went to another LFS this weekend and got two more plants. Looked them up on plant geek, and lo and behold, it looks nothing like what they were labeled as. Anyone know what these are?

The first was advertised as anubia nana ( http://www.plantgeek.net/plant-19.htm )

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The second was advertised as a water sprite ( http://www.plantgeek.net/plant-53.htm )

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Obviously they aren't what the store had them labeled as. Any help with identifying them would be appreciated.

[BreellaBlue87]

that second one looks like wild mint-- which isn't a water plant to my knowledge...

I've had the same problem with my local PetsMart... *sigh* I got a variety of Crypt from the area labeled "Swords"

[KarlTh]

There is no plant genus "Anubia", so you know you're onto a loser when a shop labels up using a non-existant name (It's Anubias and it drives me mad when people call it "Anubia"; it's right up there with "Corydora" - but I digress)

It looks like either a Sagittaria or a Vallisneria to me.

[hamsterman]

The second plant could be hyrgro. difformis or water wisteria emersed, but I am not confident.

The first looks like some vallisneria maybe jungle val?

[centralharbor]

that second one looks like wild mint-- which isn't a water plant to my knowledge...

I've had the same problem with my local PetsMart... *sigh* I got a variety of Crypt from the area labeled "Swords"

I also thought it looked like some sort of mint, but I'm hoping it's not (or if it is, I guess I can get a pot and soil for it and make some mojitos).


There is no plant genus "Anubia", so you know you're onto a loser when a shop labels up using a non-existant name (It's Anubias and it drives me mad when people call it "Anubia"; it's right up there with "Corydora" - but I digress)

It looks like either a Sagittaria or a Vallisneria to me.

Didn't know some were particular about that "s". It could have been labeled anubias and I just mistyped. It does look like the two that you have mentioned, and they have similar care, so I'll just follow those. Thanks!


The second plant could be hyrgro. difformis or water wisteria emersed, but I am not confident.

The first looks like some vallisneria maybe jungle val?

Looking at the pictures on plant geek ( http://www.plantgeek.net/plantguide_viewer.php?id=137 ), the main picture looks nothing like what I have, but the first "additional resources" image looks like it. I thought the plant I had was a floater since it had those white stem like things coming out of it like anacharis (sp?), but I guess not. I'm still a plant noob, so I guess I have to take my assumptions with a grain of salt.

[hamsterman]

The white stem like things coming out of it are roots.
If it is water wisteria, it should take a little time to adjust to growing submerged.

[svf]

Yes, and as the wisteria grows, its leaves get.. frillier looking. It is a great plant, very hardy and you can float it or stick it in the substrate.
As for the first plant... What did the root look like: Like a bulb? Roots? What color? Did you buy it bare root or in a little pot with cottony stuff holding it in?

[red_wall]

Looks like a variation of a val (valisneria).

The second - I'm almost 100% sure its terrestrial.

[BreellaBlue87]

Mmm mojitos.

Good luck, keep us posted!

[Kashta]

I think the second one is Water Wisteria grown in emergent form. Kept submerged, those above-water stems will naturally die off -- but If the root looks healthy, it'll start producing new under-water form shoots. I'd cut it back a little now to help this along.

Here's a picture I found on the web of this plant with emergent growth. You can see the same leaf pattern from the stems.. those come out in pairs and the next pair are rotated 90 degrees off the previous set.

http://www.pondplants.com/media/WaterWisteria_web.jpg

I had a hard time seeing in this photo if the leaves showed the same kind of serrated edges. So I enlarged the photo and sharpened it. The edges look the same to me, too.

Here's that same photo, enlarged... (see attached).

(BTW.. a lot of aquatic plant nurseries grow their stock plants above water. Because they grow faster that way, so that cuts their costs. For this reason, though, we often end up getting emergent forms of plants that are perfectly suitable for submersed use. But when the original die-back happens, most folks think it's a terrestial plant and throw it away. Just keep watching, see if it reverts to a different form.)

[centralharbor]

I think the second one is Water Wisteria grown in emergent form. Kept submerged, those above-water stems will naturally die off -- but If the root looks healthy, it'll start producing new under-water form shoots. I'd cut it back a little now to help this along.

Here's a picture I found on the web of this plant with emergent growth. You can see the same leaf pattern from the stems.. those come out in pairs and the next pair are rotated 90 degrees off the previous set.

http://www.pondplants.com/media/WaterWisteria_web.jpg

I had a hard time seeing in this photo if the leaves showed the same kind of serrated edges. So I enlarged the photo and sharpened it. The edges look the same to me, too.

Here's that same photo, enlarged... (see attached).

Thanks for the effort. It didn't have any roots on the end that I stuck in the gravel. Do you know if it will just eventually grow roots?

[centralharbor]

Yes, and as the wisteria grows, its leaves get.. frillier looking. It is a great plant, very hardy and you can float it or stick it in the substrate.
As for the first plant... What did the root look like: Like a bulb? Roots? What color? Did you buy it bare root or in a little pot with cottony stuff holding it in?

That plant had whitish roots with it getting yellower as it went towards the stem. It came in that wool stuff that plants come in, and the wool was encased in a plastic pot like thing (it was shaped like a pot, but not solid, it had rectangular holes)



And this question is to anyone that knows; do these plants require anything special? I just upgraded my lights to 4x14 watt daylight CFLs (I think they were 67k). Again, it's a 20 long, which brings the wpg to around 2.8. I've read that they do well in a plant substrate, but I don't feel like sinking money into substrate at this time.

[Kashta]

Thanks for the effort. It didn't have any roots on the end that I stuck in the gravel. Do you know if it will just eventually grow roots?

Gee, I wouldn't think so. If the foliage dies off underwater, there's nothing left of it to produce new growth. That's what the roots are for.

You could try floating some of it, so you can see if any roots sprout from the nodes (base of the leaves)... that wouldn't kill the underwater plant if it is, in fact, a real aquatic plant. Then plant the rest in a fairly wet dish above water and keep it moist. Make sure you trim the bottom stems up to the last node. And pluck off the bottom-most leaves, so there are 2-3 nodes in the soil. That's where the roots would come from.

I did notice the plant in the photo looks like the leaves are a little more puffy than yours is. From your picture, the leaves look flatter.. smoother. But it's real close, structurally... otherwise. Maybe the same thing, just a different variety? Not sure.

Let us know what happens... and good luck with it.

[centralharbor]

Thanks. They are flat. Like how someone said it looks like mint, that's what it reminds me of.

Also, I have no clue what nodes are.

EDIT: nevermind, reread your post and you explained it.

[Kashta]

Thanks. They are flat. Like how someone said it looks like mint, that's what it reminds me of.

Also, I have no clue what nodes are.

EDIT: nevermind, reread your post and you explained it.


LOL.. Google is great. See?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/29/Plant_nodes_c.jpg/300px-Plant_nodes_c.jpg

[Cory Keeper]

1st is a val of some sort.

2nd pic is Hygrophillia Difformis.

[Kashta]

1st is a val of some sort.

2nd pic is Hygrophillia Difformis.

Hygrophila Difformis <-- aka Water Wisteria

[BMGrubaugh]

gaurentee the first one is a italian val, i have many of the same and the red the start showing is beautiful take a look at the pics i posted today in the planted aquarium forum

[pam916]

first one is a val, maybe jungle val.