Ammannia capitellata

Ammannia capitellata was long known as Nesaea triflora. This amphibious plant occurs in Madagascar and adjacent islands in sunny places along various waters. It is able to grow above and below water. Up to now, this Ammannia is more or less spread among aquarium hobbyists but hardly available in trade. Its submerged shoots have fleshy, to 5 mm thick stems and to 5 cm long leaves. The foliage has light green to yellowish tones with a pink-orange marbling, especially with good lighting. In its terrestrial (emersed) form, the plant develops ascending to decumbent shoots with medium green, glossy leaves, light brown-red stems and small red-violet flowers. From all previously known Ammannia and former Nesaea species in the aquarium hobby, Ammannia capitellata poses the fewest difficulties. This stem plant grows quite fast with about 10 to 15 cm per week. However we recommend a good micro- and macronutrient supply, CO₂ addition and medium to strong lighting. The optimum temperatures lie between about 23 and 28℃. When it is not cut back, the plant grows easily out of the water. As well as other stem plants, it is propagated by cuttings. It ramifies well by itself. Ammannia capitellata is a relatively large, strong stem plant with pleasing yellow-green to orange colours that looks best as a group in the midground to background. It is also suitable for "plant streets" in the Dutch style and can also be grown emersed in paludariums and Wabi-Kusa where one may expect its flowers. This stem plant was introduced in the aquarium hobby under the name Nesaea triflora. In accordance with the transfer of all former Nesaea and Hionanthera species to the genus Ammannia, the species was renamed to Ammannia mauritiana in 2013. Then it has been shown that its correct name is Ammannia capitellata (more explanations will be added here). This species is a marsh plant found on several islands of the Indian Ocean including Madagascar. A variant of Ammannia capitellata that was unfortunately unsuitable for aquaristics was brought to Europe from the region south of Tamatave (Madagascar) in the 1990s. In 2000, Ammannia capitellata from Ambodimanga river north of Tamatave was imported (as Nesaea triflora). There it grows together with Myriophyllum mezianum. This clone can be cultivated submersed very well.

Flowgrow

Also known as Nesaea triflora Yellow-green to orange tones Fast growth Rarely available in trade

Ammannia mauritiana S. A. Graham & Gandhi, Lythrum triflorum L. f., Nesaea capitellata C. Presl, Nesaea triflora (L. f.) Kunth

Ammánnia capitelláta (C. Presl) S. A. Graham & Gandhi

Lythraceae

Ammannia

Ammannia triflora

Background

easy

medium

need

5-8

18-32℃

2-14 dKH

0-30 °dGH

Cuttings

yes