Apalanthe granatensis Care Guide
Apalanthe granatensis is an elodea-like South American stem plant with whorled leaves, widely distributed in tropical America and suited to cooler well-oxygenated biotope tanks.
Overview
Apalanthe granatensis is an elodea-like aquatic stem plant from the frogbit family, closely related to the waterweeds Egeria and Elodea. It bears narrow leaves about 1 mm wide and up to roughly 2 cm long in whorls of three to seven along the stems. It was first described as Elodea granatensis.
Taxonomy
- Family: Hydrocharitaceae
- Genus: Apalanthe
- Scientific name: Apalanthe granatensis
- Synonym: Elodea granatensis
Habitat
It is the most widely distributed hydrocharit in South America, ranging from Colombia and Venezuela to northern Argentina, and through many Brazilian regions. In Colombia it occurs from sea level to about 1500 m elevation. It grows in dams, rivers and freshwater lakes.
Tank requirements
- Temperature: 14-24 °C (57-75 °F)
- pH: 6.0-8.0
- GH: 4-18 °dGH
- Lighting: medium
- CO2: not required
- Placement: background
- Maximum height: ~50 cm
Cultivation
It thrives in cooler, well-oxygenated water and is undemanding, growing fast across a broad range of hardness and pH. It does not need CO2 and is well suited to biotope and subtropical tanks. The species cannot grow emersed and is not winter-hardy in temperate climates.
Propagation
Propagated from cuttings: stem sections are trimmed and replanted, where they readily form new shoots and roots.