Ludwigia helminthorrhiza (Mart.)

Bushy seed box, Rattlebox

Ludwigia helminthorrhiza is a floating aquatic plant that produces very dense compact leaves. Easy to cultivate, suitable for beginners, it is recommended inserting this plant or other anti-algae species in a newly set up aquarium to prevent and combat algae in the aquarium in a natural way.

Distribution: Belize, Bolivia, Brazil North, Brazil Northeast, Brazil West-Central, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela

Submitted by: Gaia Marotta

GPS: 3.5537050, -71.3921432

Geographical region: South America
Drainage Basin: Rio Orinoco
River catchment: Rio Meta, Rio Guaviare
Water body type: Wetland
Water body name: Nameless
Water body part: Pool
Water body course
Water body: tributary of
Tributary name

Type locality: Prov. Bahia, in stagnis ad fluv. St. Francisco prope Jozeiro, Brazil.
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: Medium
Concentration of sediments: Medium
Water temperature: 10-28 °C
Water flow/curent: Slow

Chemical parameters

pH: 6-8
Conductivity
GH: 8-14 mg/l
KH: 5-7 mg/l
Dissolved Oxygen

Phytology

Plant form

Floating

Plant type

Stem

Plant size

10-40 cm

Plant growth rate

Fast

Plant light demand

Medium

CO2

Aquarium equipment

This species is especially suitable for open tanks or paludariums, where only under a particularly intense light its leaves take on suggestive reddish tones.

In its natural environment Ludwigia helminthorrhiza mainly grows as floating plant with long stems in the shallow stagnant waters – such as lagoons, dead branches of rivers, flooded forests, – and slow-flowing rivers.

Plant care

During the summer season Ludwigia helminthorrhiza can also be cultivated outdoors in a sunny spot, planted in a pot which is placed in the garden pond, or in mobile container.

It developes densely growing, sometimes reddish floating leaves and the white, spongelike, spindle-shaped up to 2 cm long breathing roots.

This aquatic plant produces adventitious shoots that develop plantlets on them. As they plantlets form new root systems, the shoot will break away from the mother plant leaving the new plants to drift away.

Water care

To increase growth add micro elements and potassium, also nitrogen and phosphorus are recommended. CO2 is not necessary.