plant Easy level

Ceratopteris thalictroides (L.) Brongn.

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Sumatra fern, Water Sprite, Indian Water Fern, Water Fern, Oriental Water Fern, Water Horn Fern

Ceratopteris thalictroides is found in natural and man-made ponds, irrigation ditches, rice (Oryza sativa) fields, taro (Colocasia esculenta) patches, shallow marshes, small streams, estuaries, swampy areas, lakes, still pockets along slow flowing rivers and waterlogged areas.

Native to: Andaman Is., Angola, Assam, Bangladesh, Bismarck Archipelago, Brazil Southeast, Brazil West-Central, California, Cambodia, Caroline Is., Chad, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Colombia, Costa Rica, East Himalaya, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Florida, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Hainan, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Laos, Lesser Sunda Is., Louisiana, Madagascar, Malaya, Marianas, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Southwest, Mississippi, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nansei-shoto, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nicobar Is., Northern Territory, Panamá, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Queensland, Solomon Is., Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Suriname, Taiwan, Tanzania, Texas, Thailand, Uganda, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Himalaya, Western Australia, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Introduced into: Fiji, Hawaii, Romania

Submitted by
Benedetta Spelta
GPS
3.8931279, -73.2797546
Geographical region
South America
Drainage Basin
Rio Meta
River catchment
Rio Brazo Pajure
Water body type
Stream
Water body name
Caño Giramena
Water body part
Water body course
Upper course
Water body: tributary of
River
Tributary name
Rio Acacias
Type locality
Indonesia
Conservation status/IUCN Red List
Not Evaluated (NE)
Listed in CITES
No

Water Chemistry

Water information

Water type
Fresh water
Water color
Clear water
Water transparency
Low
Concentration of sediments
High
Water temperature
20-28 °C
Water flow/curent
None

Chemical parameters

pH
6.5-7.5
Conductivity
GH
KH
3-8 mg/l
Dissolved Oxygen

Phytology

Plant form
Floating
Plant type
Rosulate
Plant size
25-40 cm
Plant growth rate
Fast
Plant light demand
High
CO2
None
Aquarium equipment

This fern can either grow on a substrate, free float in water, or attached to rocks or driftwood. If grown planted, Ceratopteris thalictroides can use pretty much any substrate available. Simply make sure to only cover the roots and keep the crown exposed.

When planted, Water Sprite plants will usually produce thinner leaves when floating and can easily fill a tank with minimal intervention, so they are a great plant choice for beginners.

Floating Water Sprite will develop a system of floating roots and absorb nutrients from the water.

If you can attach Water Sprite to lava rock or driftwood it will quickly anchor itself.

Plant care

Healthy Water Sprite leaves are fern-like, thin, light-green in color, and free from tears, cracks, rips and holes. Unlike other ferns, this floating plant can survive and do well in sunny to partially shady locations of water.

Water care

Water Sprite seems to prefer softer water, with KH between 3-8.

Bibliography

Sitography

→ Invasive Species Compendium

Comment by the expert

Fronds are cooked and eaten as a vegetable in Madagascar, New Guinea, and Vietnam, and raw as a salad in Micronesia.. It has been used similarly to watercress. In Malaysia and Japan, uncurled fronds have been used in salads.