Ludwigia helminthorrhiza Care Guide
Ludwigia helminthorrhiza is a floating aquatic plant of the Onagraceae family from tropical America, with white spongy floating rootlets and white flowers.
Overview
Ludwigia helminthorrhiza is a herbaceous perennial of the family Onagraceae that functions as a floating aquatic plant. Known as floating Ludwigia, it develops specialized white rootlets that keep the plant at the water surface and forms drifting mats.
Taxonomy
- Family: Onagraceae
- Genus: Ludwigia
- Scientific name: Ludwigia helminthorrhiza
- Common name: floating Ludwigia
Habitat
Ludwigia helminthorrhiza is native to south Mexico, Colombia and South America, where it grows in wet, swampy localities. It has oval to almost round leaves and produces flowers with white petals.
Tank requirements
- Temperature: 22-30 °C
- pH: 5.5-7.5
- GH: 2-14 °dGH
- Lighting: medium
- CO2: not required
- Placement: floating
Growth and structure
The plant develops white rootlets about 1 to 1.2 cm long that act as floating bodies to keep the main plant on the surface. At each node it may also develop roots that can reach down through the water toward the bottom. As a fast-growing floater it forms drifting surface mats.
Propagation
Propagation is by cuttings and division: pieces bearing nodes and rootlets continue to grow as new floating plants.