Robert Hudson

This plant may have been around a while, but not in the USA as far as I know

This is a unique val because it has branching leaves and gets very red under good light. Mine are already red. The plant is native to Australia. Here are some pics from the WEB

Error

I've actually been chasing that species for a while.

How does it do in the aquarium?

Robert Hudson

Well, honestly, I have only had them for a week, but all indications are it should do well and grow easily under good conditions. It is really a ...I don't want to say wierd, but DIFFERENT plant. It has a sort of an erect rhizome at the base which roots grow from, making it look like a stem plant.

Aaron

This is a big and unruly plant with a growth pattern not unlike the larger Potamogeton sps. If you are looking for a fan, palm leaf-like plant, Eichornia azurea IMO is a better option.

Error

Thanks for clarifying that, Aaron, it's difficult to determine the overall size of it from those photos.

How big are we talking here? Are the leaves about the width of "jungle val"?

Robert Hudson

They are about an inch and a half wide. I don't think it is quite as prolific as Aaron suggests. It is a tall plant, like any val. The leaves kinda arch over a little

Aaron

Once this plant settles in, it is very prolific. It is a Vallisneria after all. I had this plant over a year ago and after about a month of not doing anything, it started to send runners all over the place. (just like Potamogeton, and other Vals for that matter.)Every six or so inches, I'd have a stem of this stuff. The fans reach about 8 to 10 inches across. Probably the most annoying thing about it is on really large stems, runners will pop out from the growing tip and randomly along the stem. Very bizarre. Before it completely infested the tank, I ripped it out. I think it may be still growing in my pond...