Help identifying these?

2540 Views 8 Replies 5 Participants Last post by Centromochlus, Mar 4, 2014

Menace

Discussion Starter · Mar 4, 2014

I purchased the one on the left from Petsmart, it was in a tank and I believe it's Rotala Indica. It has two leaves per segment and a skinny stem.

The one on the right was shipped with some shrimp, and I figured I'd toss it in the tank and see if it will grow (don't want to waste plants) It has 3 leaves per segment and the leaves/stem are thicker.

Also any other information on them regarding care would be appreciated. Thanks!

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jmf3460

· #2 · Mar 4, 2014

rotala indica is my guess for left

right is elodea for sure

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Menace

Discussion Starter · #3 · Mar 4, 2014

Awesome! My search is finding that Elodea is a pretty fast growing and low light plant so that's even better.

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Tinanti

· #4 · Mar 4, 2014

The correct name for the plant on the left is Rotala rotundifolia. I wish these plant sellers would get with the program.

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Menace

Discussion Starter · #5 · Mar 4, 2014

Tinanti said:
The correct name for the plant on the left is Rotala rotundifolia. I wish these plant sellers would get with the program.

Thanks. Is there a significant difference between that in Rotala Indica?

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jmf3460

· #6 · Mar 4, 2014

you are right that elodea is fast growing and low light. it has also been credited to release beneficial antibacterial antibodies that help fight against BGA (cyanobacteria) I find that it is awesome as a floater or planted. my shrimp munch on it sometimes I think. I think they are more munching on the bacteria that grows on it though. it is in my opinion an overlooked plant. it is fast growing like you said and can quickly overtake as a floater.

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Tinanti

· #7 · Mar 4, 2014

Menace said:
Thanks. Is there a significant difference between that in Rotala Indica?

They are totally different plants. Real R. indica (aka Ammannia sp. 'bonsai') is more demanding. See the Plant Finder on APC for more info.

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HybridHerp

· #8 · Mar 4, 2014

Tinanti said:
They are totally different plants. Real R. indica (aka Ammannia sp. 'bonsai') is more demanding. See the Plant Finder on APC for more info.

Because I alway get confused by this I want to ask.

The correct scientific name of Bonsai is Rotala indica? Or is it the other way around and its an Ammania species but not fully identified?

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Centromochlus

· #9 · Mar 4, 2014

HybridHerp said:
Because I alway get confused by this I want to ask.

The correct scientific name of Bonsai is Rotala indica? Or is it the other way around and its an Ammania species but not fully identified?

"True" Rotala indica, as seen below, is not an Ammannia sp.-- so Ammannia sp. 'bonsai' is not a botanically-correct name at all. I remember hearing once that the incorrect name originated from a plant seller somewhere in Asia, and it caught on... hence why many people still refer to it as that. It has since been properly identified.

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