Nechamandra alternifolia subsp. angustifolia
Narrow-leaf Nechamandra
Nechamandra alternifolia subsp. angustifolia
Narrow-leaf Nechamandra
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Description
This narrow-leaved stem plant was introduced in the 2000's as aquarium plant, probably from Vietnam. It was first taken for the Vietnamese species Blyxa vietii. In 2014 it turned out to belong to to the genus Nechamandra, and the plant was described as a new subspecies of Nechamandra alternifolia. This submerged plant occurs in Southeast Asia in shallow, standing waters. Nechamandra is a close relative of the Vallisneria species.
Nechamandra alternifolia subsp. angustifolia forms long, upright stems with alternate, linear, about 3-5 cm long and 0,7-2 mm wide leaves. Runners at the base of the plant, comparable with those of Vallisneria, are not uncommon.
The Narrow-leaf Nechamandra is a true underwater plant, not capable to develop a terrestrial (emersed) form. It grows quite fast and is moderately demanding. Rather strong lighting and regular CO2 and nutrient supply are recommendable. As well as other stem plants, it is easily propagated by cuttings. With its long runner chains, it may also form a large stand.
With its loosely upright, narrow, light green shoots, this rarely available plant provides an interesting vertical accent in the midground to background of not too small aquariums. Without cutting back, it forms a thicket of long, flooding shoots at the water surface.
This new plant has been imported from Asia under the name Blyxa vietii since around 2005. However, it was not clear whether it really belongs to the species B. vietii, which is only known from a single location in Vietnam, therefore it was named Blyxa cf. vietii. Now it's identified by Kasselmann & Petersen (2014)generalreferences#1 as Nechamandra alternifolia subsp. angustifolia.
This newly described subspecies of Nechamandra alternifolia has lieneal leaves of 3 to 5 cm length whose margin is finely serrate. They look similar to those of Blyxa japonica but are even narrower with a width of 0.7 to 2 mm.
This plant forms long upright stems and runners on its stem base, comparable to Vallisneria runners.
- To be continued -
| Misapplied names | Blyxa vietii, Blyxa cf. vietii, Blyxa sp. ''Vietnam'' |
| Complete botanical name | Nechamándra alternifólia (Roxburgh ex Wight) Thwaites subsp. angustifólia Kasselmann & G. Petersen |
| Family | Hydrocharitaceae |
| Genus | Nechamandra |
| Difficulty | medium |
| Usage | Background, Midground |
| Growth | very fast |
| pH value | 5 - 7 |
| Temperature tolerance | 18 - 30°C |
| Carbonate hardness | 0 - 14°dKH |
| General hardness | 0 - 30°dGH |
| Propagation | Runners, Cuttings |
| Can grow emersed? | no |
| Source | Flowgrow |
| Misapplied names |
| Blyxa vietii, Blyxa cf. vietii, Blyxa sp. ''Vietnam'' |
| Complete botanical name |
| Nechamándra alternifólia (Roxburgh ex Wight) Thwaites subsp. angustifólia Kasselmann & G. Petersen |
| Family |
| Hydrocharitaceae |
| Genus |
| Nechamandra |
| Difficulty |
| medium |
| Usage |
| Background, Midground |
| Growth |
| very fast |
| pH value |
| 5 - 7 |
| Temperature tolerance |
| 18 - 30°C |
| Carbonate hardness |
| 0 - 14°dKH |
| General hardness |
| 0 - 30°dGH |
| Propagation |
| Runners, Cuttings |
| Can grow emersed? |
| no |
| Source |
| Flowgrow |