Aldrovanda vesiculosa Care Guide
Aldrovanda vesiculosa, the waterwheel plant, is a rootless free-floating aquatic carnivore with snap-traps in whorls; a globally endangered specialty species.
Overview
Aldrovanda vesiculosa, the waterwheel plant, is a rootless, free-floating aquatic carnivorous plant and the only living species of its genus. Trap leaves 2-3 mm long sit in whorls of five to nine along a central stem. The snap-traps fold shut in 10-20 milliseconds to capture small aquatic invertebrates, among the fastest movements known in plants; trapping needs temperatures of at least 20 °C.
Taxonomy
- Family: Droseraceae
- Genus: Aldrovanda (monotypic)
- Scientific name: Aldrovanda vesiculosa
- Common name: waterwheel plant
Habitat
Native across Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. It inhabits clean, shallow, warm standing water with high light, low nutrient concentrations and slightly acidic pH around 6, typically among emergent vegetation such as reeds and rushes.
Tank requirements
- Temperature: 18-28 °C (64-82 °F)
- pH: 5.0-6.5
- GH: 0-4 °dGH
- Lighting: high
- CO2: not required
- Placement: floating
- Maximum length: ~20 cm (wild stems 6-40 cm)
Cultivation
Soft, acidic, nutrient-poor water with strong light reproduces its natural conditions. Floating stems grow 4-9 mm per day under optimal conditions. Warmth is needed for the traps to function. As a carnivore it captures live microfauna rather than relying on water-column fertilisation.
Reproduction
Increase is mostly vegetative, producing offshoots every 3-4 cm; the plant can be divided. White flowers and seed set are rare in temperate regions. In cooler climates it overwinters as turions (dormant buds) that sink and tolerate cold.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Endangered. Only about 50 confirmed populations remain worldwide, threatened by habitat degradation and pollution.