Tex Gal

I got a plant many moons ago from two different people which I thought was Sao Paulo. The last time I trimmed and sold the plant I was contacted by two very "in the know" people telling me that they thought I had Kawagoneum NOT Sao Paulo. It grows up but if I trim it, it will branch out. It has the red/pink color only on the top leaves, which are nearest to the light.
Here is a px of what I have:



Does anyone have a px of a true Sao Paulo? It's supposed to be magenta all the way down the stem. I would love to see them side by side so that I can see the differences. I need a px where the differences are glaring.

DonaldmBoyer

If you sent me what is in the picture, it is "Sao Paulo." Mine is red/magenta all the way through.

Tell me if this make you jealous:

ZooTycoonMaster

Your tanks/plants are so beautiful you don't have to have an exact ID

Lol but from the pictures I've seen, Kawagoeanum has 2 leaves coming out from the same node, and Sao Paulo has one leaf slight higher than the other leaf.

Cavan Allen

These two plants are frequently confused, but they are very different. 'Sao Paulo' always grows in a strictly vertical fashion and not in the spreading manner of the plant pictured here. In addition, its newest leaves curve downward. Its color is a stronger magenta that is usually seen all the way up and down the stem. There's more to it than that of course, but those properties are more than sufficient for differentiation.

Good pics of both are in the Plant Finder.
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/f...spec=Polygonum
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/f...spec=Polygonum

Tex Gal

Thanks Zoo. I hate to be selling a plant mislabeled. I do love the plant.

Don - it's FABULOUS!! Your tank is so huge you have plenty of room for your "BRILLIANT SUN" to penetrate to the substrate. Did I send that to you? I only have one kind. (OK, I'm gonna up my light when my rescape is done....cross your fingers for me!)

I'd like to see the difference in the two plants. My google search turned up a different growth pattern with one leaves growing down from where they sprout out at the top. The other (what I have and what Don has px'd) has the new sprouts and leaves growing up.

Sure wish I could see them side by side in the tank. I hope to get a piece of Sao Paulo (truly ID'd) from someone soon. It's emersed, but will change over. Then I can see the difference side by side!.

Coralite

My Sao Paulo grows phone pole straight, even with the side branches. Here is a pic of it not at it's most purple but you get the idea.

Tex Gal

Just found this on the net. I added the words which were in the description underneath. I just superimposed them onto the photo.


Coralite I see the straight growth and the turned down leaf. But if I look at Don's and yours they are so similar. Sure wish I could put them side by side!!

DonaldmBoyer

I think yours is "overgrown" and "just a tad underlit" Poly Sao Paulo. It is a glutton for iron, phosphorus, and I do not plant any more than two stems together. It needs appreciable room to grow. And super-light! Nitrogen tends to pale the color to yellow or green. I would guess that you dose nitrogen with some regularity from the looks of the Sao Paulo you have? CUT IT OUT and STOP IT!

Tex Gal

Don - what do you think about the last px I just posted?

DonaldmBoyer

I think it looks great!

How do you mean? Do you mean "do you think I have Sao Paulo or Kawa.?" I am pretty sure you and I both have Sao Paulo........