Echinodorus osiris (rubra) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
 Click to view a 77kb photograph |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| Echinodorus osiris (rubra)
is one of the most ornamental sword plants. In the 1970s
this plant was one of the most trendy - a real plant
aquarists had to have a Echinodorus osiris in
the aquarium. Although, a lot of new plants have emerged
since then, it is still among the most popular aquarium
plants. The 3-4 youngest leaves are beautifully red-coloured. In addition, the young leaves are a very good indicator for especially the iron level of the aquarium. At iron deficiency, these leaves turn pale and translucent. Echinodorus osiris prefers a nutrient rich substrate, bright light - pH values above 7.5 restrict the growth significantly. It is a greedy plant, and the growth always benefits from fertilizer pills in the substrate. The plant is amphibious and the emergent leaves are egg-shaped compared to the more elliptic and undulating water leaves. Echinodorus osiris is triploide and no fertile seeds are produced. Therefore, the plant can only be propagated through adventitious plants on the inflorescence or from the rhizome. See also fish-proof plants from Tropica Aquarium Plants. |
|||||||||||||||||||||
