do you subwassertang?

[Robert Hudson]

i just finished writing an article about this plant for TFH magazine. It is one of my favorites!

http://www.aquabotanicstore.com/v/vspfiles/photos/subwasser5-2.jpg

[troy]

What is it?

[Robert Hudson]

Well it has an interesting story... want to hear it ? :ssmile:

It looks like a liverwort, whats commonly called Pellia. It has roundish shaped leaves that are rootless and stemless, but have tiny feelers that attach to wood or rock.

What is interesting about this plant is that it is really not an aquatic plant at all, or even a full grown plant! Some terrestrial plants have different growth forms, like a catterpillar and butterfly. This growth form is called a gametophyte. It usually has both a male and female organ that combine to reproduce the next growth form of the fern, but for an unknown reason this Gametophyte that has been cultivated for the aquarium is missing the female sex organs, and as a result will never transform to the next growth stage and never become a fern. It is stuck forever looking like this, and it grows like crazy underwater!

It was first brought to the hobby in Germany and given the name Subwassertang which means freshwater seaweed. The type of fern that it is a form of, is a tree climbing fern called Lomariopsis lineata.

All you need is moderate light to grow it and it forms these pillowy looking cushions on wood or rock. Pretty darn cool!

[Dave66]

Very, Robert, and welcome to the forum!

Dave

[Robert Hudson]

thanks! glad to be here

[Gayle]

Pretty spiffy!! It is a very nice plant!!!

Hello and welcome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[iZinedane]

interesting plant.
welcome to the AC! :22: