Egeria najas, Narrow leaf Elodea (Egeria najas)

seds

Egeria najas is a fast growing, easy stem plant that produces an abundance of side shoots. The leaves curl down, some specimens more than others. The narrow leaves are edged with small "teeth." It can remove carbonate ions from the water as a carbon source. (calcuim collects on the leaves without additional CO2, as in the picture)

The stems have difficulty staying straight, and tend to lean one way or another. It doesn't grow side shoots very well (in my experience) when the tip is removed. The plant itself looks great, but it doesn't fit too well into a well manicured display... because of the odd growth habits.

It can grow in as little as 1.4 watts per gallon, in one of my tanks, although it grows very slowly. It can grow in a pickle jar on the windowsill, with nothing more than a bit of sand and a culture of daphnia.