plant Easy level

Riccia fluitans L.

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Crystalwort; Floating liverwort

The habitat of Riccia fluitans are lakes and rivers. It is a moss-shaped plant usually found on the surface of the water, being by Nature a floating plant that forms thick cushions. This vegetation is the ideal refuge for small fish and newborn fry. However, in Nature it is also sometimes found submerged, where it takes root on the mud and takes its emerse shape, developing short rhizomes that allow it to anchor itself on the bottom.

Submitted by
Benedetta Spelta
GPS
18.8423061, 94.3441162
Geographical region
Southeastern Asia
Drainage Basin
Bay of Bengal
River catchment
Water body type
River
Water body name
Toungup (Taunggok)
Water body part
Water body course
Middle course
Water body: tributary of
Tributary name
Type locality
Cosmopolitan
Conservation status/IUCN Red List
Least Concern (LC)
Listed in CITES
No

Water Chemistry

Water information

Water type
Fresh water
Water color
Clear water
Water transparency
High
Concentration of sediments
Low
Water temperature
20.5 - 28.5 °C
Water flow/curent
Slow

Chemical parameters

pH
7.0
Conductivity
150
GH
KH
Dissolved Oxygen

Phytology

Plant form
Semi-submersed
Plant type
Carpeting
Plant size
In Nature it grows infinite, in the aquarium usually kept at 1 - 5 cm cm
Plant growth rate
Fast
Plant light demand
Medium
CO2
Medium
Aquarium equipment

By weighing down the net with small rocks you can create a Riccia carpet in the foreground of your aquarium.

Plant care

Its wide distribution may be attributed to the fact that it tolerates a multitude of different environmental conditions. As a floating plant it doesn’t require much light, and there is no need to fertilise with CO2. However, when cultivated submersed, tied to rocks and wood, the crystalwort’s necessity for light increases considerably, so also more CO2 could be needed. The plant does well with a high nutrient supply: iron, nitrate, potassium and phosphate.

Water care

Water hardness doesn’t play an important role.

Sitography

→ Plant Finder
→ Interactions between light and CO2 enhance the growth of Riccia fluitans
→ NBN Atlas – Riccia fluitans