Echinodorus martii Care Guide
Echinodorus martii, the Ruffled Amazon Sword, has large translucent light-green leaves with bright veins and strongly undulating margins, a classic specimen sword.
Overview
Echinodorus martii, often sold as the Ruffled Amazon Sword and closely linked to E. major, is a sword plant in the family Alismataceae native to eastern Brazil. It produces large, light-green, translucent leaves with bright veins and a strongly undulating (ruffled) margin. It is grown as a specimen rosette and is well suited to medium and large aquariums, where it can serve as a central focal point.
Taxonomy
- Family: Alismataceae
- Genus: Echinodorus
- Scientific name: Echinodorus martii
Habitat
The plant is native to eastern Brazil. Like other Echinodorus it is a marshland and riverine plant that grows submersed in shallow flowing water and can also grow emersed when water levels fall.
Tank requirements
- Temperature: 22-28 °C (72-82 °F)
- pH: 6.0-7.5
- GH: 3-14 °dGH
- Lighting: moderate
- CO2: not required, but enrichment enhances growth significantly
- Growth rate: medium
- Maximum height: about 50 cm
- Placement: midground to background specimen
Planting and care
It is undemanding and tolerates varied water conditions, but as a heavy root feeder it needs nutrient-rich substrate or root tabs. The species is sensitive to iron deficiency, which can turn the leaves almost white and transparent, so iron-bearing fertilisation is important. Moderate light is sufficient, while higher light and CO2 enrichment significantly enhance growth.
Propagation
Propagation is by adventitious plantlets on the flower stalks. Once these plantlets develop their own roots they can be separated and replanted.