Unknown plant

[Nain]

I recently set up a small breeder tank and put in some water sprite. Recently I noticed a different plant growing amongst the water sprite. The unknown plant floats at the top and is a tangled mass of finely branched filaments. The diameter of each of the branch filaments is about twice the diameter of a human hair. It is most definitely not riccia or java moss. I have both in other tanks. At the tip of the newest branches are very tiny circular leaflets about the diameter of a pencil lead. The plant looks ideal as a spawning grass for killies. The plant looks like a tangled bunch of fishing line with no growth orientation related to either light or the bottom. It does not attach to whatever it touches. The plant is coloured a little bit lighter than the water sprite, almost a lime green.

Does anyone know what this is?

 

[tjudy]

That might be a type of bladderpod. If you can get a closer look at the leaves, see if they are shaped like little cups or pouches.

Bladderpod is a 'carnivorous plant' that traps zooplankton in the pouches. Neat plants...

 

[2la]

Could also be bladderwort, Utricularia gibba, maybe...?

If you ever don't want it in your tank, good luck getting rid of it! It's much like riccia in that regard.

 

[tjudy]

Bladderwort... bladderpod... same thing.... :wink:

 

[Nain]

Thank you for your rapid response. The photo is exactly what I have. Now I can research. Thank you again.

 

[2la]

Actually, Ted, Lesquerella gordonii is more commonly associated with "bladderpod" amongst botanists. Not sure how the common names (which suck, IMHO :wink: ) hold up in aquarium circles, but bladderpod is not one I've heard around these parts before. Oh well, at least we now know we're referring to the same plant...

 

[tjudy]

I have a hard enough time keeping up with fish names... :lol: