Can anyone please identify these plants?

[davidjp1982]

The guy at my local fish store is friendly enough but in his own words "has no idea" what the plants are that he sells. I have previously bought plants that turned out not to be aquatic at all and merely rotted away after a time. I just wonder if anyone could identify the plants that I currently have in my tank:

I believe the one on the left is Anubias? And the one on the right Wisteria? The Wisteria seems to be the only plant that flourishes in my tank - roots like crazy !

Am coming to the conclusion that these two are non aquatic plants..either that or they just don't want to know in my aquarium! Any ideas?

 

[prototop]

I think the one on the right, in the first picture, is hygrophila difformis. The other one might be anubias, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was a non-aquatic stemplant of some sort. I don't know the plant in the second picture, but I suspect it isn't aquatic either.

 

[Mike Wise]

The plants in the second photo are a plant that was sold as a 'jade fern' 40 years ago. It is related to the house plant called a 'corn plant' and is terrestrial. It will rot away. If you - like me - aren't strong on plant ID, then look for plants that don't have heavy/woody stems. This is a prime indicator that they are terrestrial. Aquatic plants really don't need heavy stems to support their leaves. That's what they use water for.

 

[cichlidmac]

Top left plant is not an anubias. You should have a decent sized rhizome at the bottom and I don't see one.

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[gerald]

The "not Anubias" plant might be a peace lily, Spathiphyllum (non-aquatic). The corn-like plants in 2nd photo are Dracaena (non-aquatic). Stores and growers LOVE to sell non-aquatics because they don't die right away, but last just long enough to be enjoyable for a few months, then the customers comes back to buy more.

 

[davidjp1982]

Wow thanks for all the responses The plant I believed to be Anubias does indeed have a rhizome it is just underneath / behind the coconut shell to the left so you cant see it in the photo. I have ditched the non aquatic suspects and ordered up some water sprites from eBay which I gather are actually anther form of the wisteria in the other photo. I think I will stick to eBay for my aquatic plants from now on if I can find a good supplier thanks for all your help.

 

[davidjp1982]

The "not Anubias" plant might be a peace lily, Spathiphyllum (non-aquatic). The corn-like plants in 2nd photo are Dracaena (non-aquatic). Stores and growers LOVE to sell non-aquatics because they don't die right away, but last just long enough to be enjoyable for a few months, then the customers comes back to buy more.

Sound about right to me - also thought you might appreciate the new non gaudy substrate

 

[gerald]

"... water sprites from eBay which I gather are actually anther form of the wisteria"
Nope - their leaf shapes are similar but they are not at all related. Water sprite is a true fern (see how the new leaves unroll from a spiral, in typical fern "fiddlehead" fashion), and grows from the base (no vertical stem). Water wisteria is a flowering plant, a type of Hygrophila, with leaves along branching stems.

Yup - i DO appreciate the new gravel. Hopefully it wont nauseate and kill any more fish like the old stuff did |:>)

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
Like the other have said, Hygrophila difformis (which is not the same plant as Ceratopteris thalictroides). Water Sprite (C. thalictroides) it is an excellent plant.

Have a look at Apistobob's web-site for plants, it is a very useful site - <http://www.dwarfcichlid.com/Aquarium_plants.php>.

The stem plant is Dracaena sanderiana, the same plant as "Lucky Bamboo".

I also think the Aroid possibly isn't an Anubias, but may be Spathiphyllum. Anubias has a much thicker, tougher leaf. If it has a leathery leaf it probably is an Anubias.

cheers Darrel

 

[cichlidmac]

Wow I've had my water sprite a long time and forgot what a single stem looked like. Shame on me. Here's a pic of what yours will look like in no time.

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[davidjp1982]

Wow thanks for the responses - I bought a bunch of water srpite stems on ebay but they just dont seem to be taking

 

[cichlidmac]

Wow thanks for the responses - I bought a bunch of water srpite stems on ebay but they just dont seem to be taking

Float some then plant some in the substrate with a little root showing don't bury the roots completely. Also they love a dirted substrate.

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[davidjp1982]

Float some then plant some in the substrate with a little root showing don't bury the roots completely. Also they love a dirted substrate.

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thanks I've been floating them for a week or so now the fish really seem to like them as a feature to shelter under and I think they actually look pretty nice and natural just floating so will most likely leave them like that

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

thanks I've been floating them for a week or so now the fish really seem to like them as a feature to shelter under and I think they actually look pretty nice and natural just floating so will most likely leave them like that

That is why I like them. They are fine as a floater, even if you start by planting them, over time new plants will form on the older leaves and float off.

You can see them as a "floater" in this tank:

cheers Darrel

 

[Apistomaster]

Your first photo is definitely showing a stem of Hygrophila difformis aka Water Wisteria and not Water Sprite.
H. difformis is a stem plant with opposing pairs of leaves. The Ceratopteris spp. aka Water Sprites are all ferns.
One of my favored aquarium plant sources is www.aquariumplants.com.
I have never been disappointed with their plants and service.
They provide some info about most of the plants they sell.

 

[davidjp1982]

Hey thanks for the response I checked out the site but as I live in the UK would probe expensive ordering from US site I think. Thanks for the plant ID

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