Hygrophila costata
- Also known as Hygrophila guyanensis
- Narrow-leaved stem plant from South America
- Light green
- Upright growth
Plants of the genus Hygrophila which are cultivated emersedly can occaisonally show small, firm tissue overgrowths ("pustules") on their upper and lower leave side. These are completely harmless and not caused by pest infestation or disease. On newly sprouted submerged leaves these spots will no longer appear.
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Description
Most Hygrophila species in the aquarium hobby originate from Asia, but Hygrophila costata is native to North to South America. This species is also known as Hygrophila guyanensis and is very variable, with different forms. Our offered plant forms light to medium green, very narrow-lanceolate, almost ribbon-shaped underwater leaves. It has been confused with the similar Hygrophila corymbosa "Angustifolia", but identified as H. costata by its flowers in the terrestrial form. The upright, strong, about 4 mm thick, smooth, rounded square stems grow over 40 cm tall.
The internodes (stem segments between the nodes) are approx. 4 - 5 cm long. The submerged leaves, including the stem, grow to about 20 - 24 cm long and 8 - 10 mm wide.
When the plant grows in the terrestrial form, it develops a broader leaf shape. Small white flowers then appear in the leaf axils. Hygrophila costata is usually supplied in the emersed form and then forms submerged, clearly narrower-leaved shoots in the aquarium.
The Gulf swampweed is not too demanding, but should not be lit too dimly. Before it reaches the water surface, it should be cut back. The cut shoots can be placed in the soil as head cuttings. In tanks without a cover, Hygrophila costata can also be left to grow out of the water as a semi-emerged plant. The plant then forms strong, tall bushes with quite woody stems.
Hygrophila costata looks decorative as a larger group in the mid to background. With its upright, strong stems it creates a vertical structure. The long, narrow, flexible leaves sway in the water current. The Guyanese Water Lily is well suited, for example, to biotope pools that are modelled on a strongly flowing stream or river in tropical America. The plant is also well suited as a semi-emerged plant growing out of the water in open aquariums or as a taller marsh plant in paludariums.
Hygrophila costata is a variable species. Several authors also count H. guianensis and the North-American H. lacustris among it. H. costata originates from the American tropics and subtropics, however, it has been introduced into Australia (Queensland) by the aquarium plant trade and is considered an invasive plant there today.
The stems of the emersed form of H. costata are hairless or have very short hairs (not glandular), the leaves are lanceolate, shaped like a willow leaf, and the small white, 1 cm long flowers stand in groups of up over 10 in the leaf axils. The flowers are followed by spindle-shaped acuminate densely grouped fruits.
H. costata, of American provenience, is quite similar to the plants of the Hygrophila salicifolia complex from Asia. However, it differs from them by its white flowers, among others. (read more)
| Common names | Glush weed, Gulf Swampweed, Lake Hygrophila |
| Synonyms | Hygrophila guianensis Nees ex Benth., Hygrophila lacustris (Cham. & Schltdl.) Nees, Hygrophila lacustris Morong & Britton |
| Complete botanical name | Hygróphila costáta Nees |
| Family | Acanthaceae |
| Genus | Hygrophila |
| Difficulty | medium |
| Usage | Background, Midground, Street (Dutch style) |
| Growth | fast |
| pH value | 5 - 7 |
| Temperature tolerance | 18 - 30°C |
| Carbonate hardness | 0 - 7°dKH |
| General hardness | 0 - 30°dGH |
| Propagation | Seeds, Cuttings |
| Can grow emersed? | yes |
| Source | Flowgrow |
| Common names |
| Glush weed, Gulf Swampweed, Lake Hygrophila |
| Synonyms |
| Hygrophila guianensis Nees ex Benth., Hygrophila lacustris (Cham. & Schltdl.) Nees, Hygrophila lacustris Morong & Britton |
| Complete botanical name |
| Hygróphila costáta Nees |
| Family |
| Acanthaceae |
| Genus |
| Hygrophila |
| Difficulty |
| medium |
| Usage |
| Background, Midground, Street (Dutch style) |
| Growth |
| fast |
| pH value |
| 5 - 7 |
| Temperature tolerance |
| 18 - 30°C |
| Carbonate hardness |
| 0 - 7°dKH |
| General hardness |
| 0 - 30°dGH |
| Propagation |
| Seeds, Cuttings |
| Can grow emersed? |
| yes |
| Source |
| Flowgrow |
General information
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Customer reviews
7 Reviews
| 5 Stars(3) |
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| 4 Stars(1) |
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| 3 Stars(0) |
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| 1 Star(0) |
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The plant arrived in very good conditions. I expected a faster growth, but with all the current problems of adapting to a submersed life, the plant is doing fine and i like it