List of freshwater aquarium plant species

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Bolbitis heudelotii, one of hundreds of aquatic plants found in the hobby Bolbitis heudelotii.jpeg
Bolbitis heudelotii, one of hundreds of aquatic plants found in the hobby

Aquatic plants are used to give the freshwater aquarium a natural appearance, oxygenate the water, absorb ammonia, and provide habitat for fish, especially fry (babies) and for invertebrates. Some aquarium fish and invertebrates also eat live plants. Hobbyists use aquatic plants for aquascaping, of several aesthetic styles.

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Most of these plant species are found either partially or fully submerged in their natural habitat. Although there are a handful of obligate aquatic plants that must be grown entirely underwater, most can grow fully emersed if the soil is moist. Though some are just living at the water margins, still, they can live in the completely submerged habitat.

By scientific name

The taxonomy of most plant genera is not final. Scientific names listed here may, therefore, contradict other sources. Many of these species are dangerous invasives and should be disposed of in a way that guarantees that they will not enter local waters.

Common aquarium plant species:

Algae

Most algae in hobby aquaria are unwanted, nuisance plants. Few algae, such as marimo (Aegagropila linnaei), are sought after and intentionally cultivated in freshwater aquaria.

False aquatics or pseudo-aquarium plants

Several species of terrestrial plants are frequently sold as "aquarium plants". While such plants are beautiful and can survive and even flourish for months under water, they will eventually die and must be removed so their decay does not contaminate the aquarium water. These plants have no necessary biology to live underwater.

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Related Research Articles

This article gives an overview of the aquatic communities in the British National Vegetation Classification system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aquascaping</span> Craft of designing and planting aquariums

Aquascaping is the craft of arranging aquatic plants, as well as rocks, stones, cavework, or driftwood, in an aesthetically pleasing manner within an aquarium—in effect, gardening under water. Aquascape designs include a number of distinct styles, including the garden-like Dutch style and the Japanese-inspired nature style. Typically, an aquascape houses fish as well as plants, although it is possible to create an aquascape with plants only, or with rockwork or other hardscape and no plants.

<i>Luronium</i> Species of plant

Luronium natans is a species of aquatic plant commonly known as the floating water-plantain. It is the only recognized species in the genus Luronium, native to western and central Europe, from Spain to Britain to Norway east to Ukraine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freshwater aquarium</span> Water tank for holding aquatic animals

A freshwater aquarium is a receptacle that holds one or more freshwater aquatic organisms for decorative, pet-keeping, or research purposes. Modern aquariums are most often made from transparent glass or acrylic glass. Typical inhabitants include fish, plants, amphibians, and invertebrates, such as snails and crustaceans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Orestiada</span> Lake in Macedonia, Greece

Lake Orestiada or Lake of Kastoria is a lake in the Kastoria regional unit of Macedonia, northwestern Greece. It spreads out in a natural basin, surrounded by mountains and is the remnant of a huge ancient Miocene lake that reached an area of 164 square kilometres and at a depth of 50 meters. Sitting at an altitude of 630 metres, the lake covers an area of 28 square kilometres with a coastline that reaches 34 km. The maximum depth of the lake reaches about 9 meters and the average depth 4.5 meters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Squantz Pond</span> Lake in New Fairfield, Connecticut

Squantz Pond is a 288-acre lake in Fairfield County, Connecticut. It is located on the town line of Sherman and New Fairfield, and is bordered by manmade Candlewood Lake. The south shore is protected as Squantz Pond State Park, and is managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The pond is named for Chief Squantz, a leader of the Schaghticoke tribe.

References

  1. Li, Fay-Wei; Benito C. Tan; Volker Buchbender; Robbin C. Moran; Germinal Rouhan; Chun-Neng Wang; Dietmar Quandt (2009). "Identifying a mysterious aquatic fern gametophyte" (PDF). Plant Systematics and Evolution. 281 (1–4): 77–86. Bibcode:2009PSyEv.281...77L. doi:10.1007/s00606-009-0188-2. ISSN   0378-2697. S2CID   14599652.
  2. "Staurogyne — The Plant List".

See also