Omi256
05-26-2011, 12:10 AM
I put this in this section as most Isoëtes have rhizomes.
I am quite fascinated with these plants due to evolutionary biology (They are the only Lycopods that I know of in the hobby), their very simple yet regular appearance and the fact that my local aquarium store sells them for US$8 in a tropical tank, which they seem to enjoy, despite the fact that they are being sold as "Octopus Plant", which as far as I have read, refers to a single species, though it is quite possible that "Octopus Plant" (As is the case with "Quillwort", a vernacular term for the Isoëtes genus) merely is a generic term for all Isoëtes species, not just I. lacustris.
Anyways, I have 2 questions on Isoëtes: First, has anyone had any experience with them in a tropical aquarium; if so, how did they do? Secondly, They seem to grow rather tall; I am not sure about their growth habits (They are not Monocot Angiosperms, which have leaves that grow from the base nor Diocot Angiosperms, whose leaves grow from their tips); thus, could I prune the tips of their leaves without killing the plants (this is important in my shallow water paludarium)?
Many thanks for everyone's help!
I am quite fascinated with these plants due to evolutionary biology (They are the only Lycopods that I know of in the hobby), their very simple yet regular appearance and the fact that my local aquarium store sells them for US$8 in a tropical tank, which they seem to enjoy, despite the fact that they are being sold as "Octopus Plant", which as far as I have read, refers to a single species, though it is quite possible that "Octopus Plant" (As is the case with "Quillwort", a vernacular term for the Isoëtes genus) merely is a generic term for all Isoëtes species, not just I. lacustris.
Anyways, I have 2 questions on Isoëtes: First, has anyone had any experience with them in a tropical aquarium; if so, how did they do? Secondly, They seem to grow rather tall; I am not sure about their growth habits (They are not Monocot Angiosperms, which have leaves that grow from the base nor Diocot Angiosperms, whose leaves grow from their tips); thus, could I prune the tips of their leaves without killing the plants (this is important in my shallow water paludarium)?
Many thanks for everyone's help!