Is this plant trely aquatic

[petluvr]

I saw this plant at an LFS today and it was stunning, however this place is notoriuos for selling non-aquatic plants. Does anyone recognize it and is it truely aquatic. It was labeled only "HEMIGRAPHIS" Sorry for the quality of the pic it was taken with my cell.

 

[saram521]

I don't think this is an aquatic plant. It looks like a plant people call the purple waffle plant.

 

[littlecich]

Yes, it is indeed a Purple Waffle plant, Hemigraphis exotica.

 

[KIM_TMA]

agreed!

Scientific name: Hemigraphis exotica

Common name: Purple waffle

Light requirements:

Difficulty:

Aquarium niche:

Care: Hemigraphis exotica is NOT an aquarium plant. If put in a tank or pond, it will eventually die, rot and contaminate the water.

 

[petluvr]

Once again this LFS lives up to it's reputation for selling non-aquatic plants and once again the people here prove to be a VERY reliable source of information. THANKS GUYS

 

[The Red Severum]

Nope it is non aquatic... My lfs sells them..

 

[DarrylR]

I heard to tell if a plant is aquatic or not is to look at the roots. Straight roots down are non-aquatic, roots that stretch out are aquatic.

I am unsure if this is 100% sure, but I did the experiment a few times, unsure of all species.

Heres a list of non-aquatics

http://www.plantgeek.net/plantguide_list.php?category=11

 

[Shocker6966]

The LFS isn't 100% to blame. The vast majority of petstore owners rely on the knowledge of their staff and the credibility of the people whom they buy their wares off of. The true culprit is the company/salesman that is passing them off as aquatic plants.

That said however, if you tell the proprietor of your LFS that it's not aquatic, provide them with credible proof, and they continue to carry it as such, then yes, the blame is 100% on them.