Eelgrass
Vallisneria spiralis
Eelgrass
- Undemanding grass-like plant
- 30-80 cm tall
- Light to medium green leaves
- Also recommended for initial planting
- Fast propagation by runners
When supplied as a potted plant and/or bunch, it is very important that it is not planted in direct company of invertebrates. The plant should be watered for at least a week - with regular water changes - before introducing it into your aquarium. The plant nurseries commonly use raw material from Asia for these variants. When planted into an existing ecosystem, it is possible that invertebrates could be harmed. There should be no issues with a new set-up - but regular water changes are advised as well.
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Description
The "eelgrass", Vallisneria spiralis, is one of the longest known, yet popular aquarium plants. This submerged plant has a wide distribution in Africa and the warmer parts of Europe and Asia. It forms dense, extended stands in lakes and rivers by its runners. The strap-shaped leaves are light to medium green, slightly transparent and about 5-15 mm wide. They vary greatly in length, one may expect a maximum length of 60 cm or more. Besides straight-leaved plants there are also forms with spirally twisted leaves. However this species is not named after such leaves but after the stalks of the female flowers that twist after flowering, as well as in other Vallisneria species. Also typical of the genus, long runners with "chains" of numerous plants arise from the leaf rosettes.
Vallisneria spiralis is known as an easy, fast growing aquarium plant that is also recommended for beginners. It does not need CO2 addition and prefers medium to high carbonate hardness. The light demand is moderate. A good nutrient supply via the water or also the bottom is benificial for its growth. The preferable temperatures lie between 20 and 28 °C. It propagates itself by its runners that have to be reduced occasionally. Very long leaves may be cut, but generally this Vallisneria should be planted in rather high tanks. This classic aquarium plant looks best as dense stand in the background or at the sidewalls of larger aquariums. With its fast growth, Vallisneria spiralis competes with algae, and its foliage provides a natural shelter for aquarium inhabitants. Its narrow, grass-like leaves set a vertical accent and contrast with broad-leaved, finely branched or red plants. This Vallisneria is also well suited for biotope aquariums and tanks where the temperature may drop below 20 °C.
Vallisneria spiralis is one of the "classic" aquarium plants, known in the hobby since the beginnings of aquaristics. In nature it is distributed in stagnant and flowing waters in Africa, Asia and the warmer regions of Europe (e.g. Italy). Its species name "spiralis" does not refer to its leaf form but to its flower stalk, which starts spiralling after the female flower has withered (as it does in all Vallisneria species). Thus the infrutescence is drawn downward.
The plants sold as V. spiralis in trade can grow to very different lengths. However, in most cases plants with smooth (not spiralling) relatively narrow leaves are labeled V. spiralis. So-called "V. spiralis" imported from Malaysia have been identified as Vallisneria denseserrulata, a species native to Asia, recently differentiated from V. spiralis but very hard to know apart without flowers.
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| Complete botanical name | Vallisnéria spirális L. |
| Family | Hydrocharitaceae |
| Genus | Vallisneria |
| Difficulty | very easy |
| Usage | Background |
| Growth | fast |
| pH value | 6 - 8 |
| Temperature tolerance | 5 - 30°C |
| Carbonate hardness | 2 - 21°dKH |
| General hardness | 0 - 30°dGH |
| Propagation | Runners |
| Can grow emersed? | no |
| Source | Flowgrow |
| Complete botanical name |
| Vallisnéria spirális L. |
| Family |
| Hydrocharitaceae |
| Genus |
| Vallisneria |
| Difficulty |
| very easy |
| Usage |
| Background |
| Growth |
| fast |
| pH value |
| 6 - 8 |
| Temperature tolerance |
| 5 - 30°C |
| Carbonate hardness |
| 2 - 21°dKH |
| General hardness |
| 0 - 30°dGH |
| Propagation |
| Runners |
| Can grow emersed? |
| no |
| Source |
| Flowgrow |
General information
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| EAN | |
| Weight | |
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