True Dwarf Vallisneria

[hortgirl]

A lifetime ago and half a continent away I had a dwarf version of Vallisneria in a tank with some guppies. It never grew taller than about 15-20 cm. Now that I have a tank again, I cannot find this Val. Does anybody have experience with a dwarf cultivar? I'd really like to find one. Tropica has the following: "Vallisneria 'Mini Twister' but the only retailer I could find (in Vancouver, BC) says that Tropica doesn't export to the US. Help!

[Raithan Ellis]

You might find some useful info on the Mini-twister here...
http://www.tropica.com/en/plants/plant-articles/vallisneria.aspx


I found a UK company that does international shipping and is a Tropica dealer.
http://www.thegreenmachineonline.com...a-mini-twister

It appears that they do international shipment if you accept that they do not guarantee those orders. That said, it may be necessary to have an agricultural import permit, depending on federal/state laws. Also note, the shipper may need to provide a Phytosanitary Certificate. You may be able to mitigate these concerns pending the roots of the plant can be visibly inspected, i.e., not in rockwool.
http://www.thekrib.com/Plants/import.html

Alas, I found this on the United Stated Department of Agriculture - Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service website:

Q: Does APHIS regulate aquatic plants? A: Yes, the Plant Protection Act does not distinguish aquatic plants from terrestrial plants. When imported for growing or propagation, aquatic plants require a phytosanitary certificate issued by the exporting country and a written import permit for shipments of 13 or more articles. Like all plants intended for planting, aquatic plants are subject to inspection at the port of entry and must be free of quarantine pests. The following aquatic plants are prohibited federal noxious weeds, which may be imported or moved interstate only with a PPQ 526, permit to move live plant pests and noxious weeds: Azolla pinnata (mosquito fern, water velvet) Caulerpa taxifolia; Mediterranean strain (killer algae) Eichornia azurea (anchored waterhyacinth, rooted waterhyacinth) Hydrilla verticillata (hydrilla) Hygrophila polysperma (Miramar weed) Ipomoea aquatica (water-spinach, swamp morning-glory) Lagarosiphon major Limnophila sessiliflora (ambulia) Melaleuca quinquenervia (broadleaf paper bark tree). Monochoria hastata Monochoria vaginalis Ottelia alismoides Sagittaria sagittifolia (arrowhead) Salvinia spp. (giant salvinias) Solanum tampicense (wetland nightshade) Sparganium erectum (exotic bur-reed)