Common Name
Three-stamen waterwort, Ah Pek's plant
Description
Elatine triandra is a small, delicate plant, growing under water as well as terrestrial on wet ground. It is widespread in Eurasia, Australia and New Zealand and occurs as a pioneer plant on bare mud, for example in ponds and rice fields. As aquarium plant it is not really new, however currently a true rarity as it has largely disappeared from the commercial range. As submerged plant, the Three-stamen waterwort grows first low and carpet-like, later also densely bushy, to about 10 cm tall. The stems are very soft and tender, the elongate leaves are a freshly light green or yellow-green colour.
Rather strong lighting, CO2 injection and good nutrient supply are recommendable, otherwise stunted growth, perforated leaves and decaying stems may occur. Elatine triandra also prefers rather low temperatures up to about 23℃; permanently warmer water above 25℃ is detrimental. Set small, spaced bushes of few shoots into the ground; under good conditions the plant will soon overgrow the area. Occasional trimming maintains a low, carpet-like growth. If desired, one can also let it develop into a higher bush. Elatine triandra is easily propagated by cuttings; the submerged plant also develops cleistogamous flowers and even germinable seeds which occasionally germinate spontaneously in the aquarium.
This small-leaved, very bushy plant can be used in the foreground and midground in many ways, however its rather fast growth must be taken into account. With its brightly yellow-green colour it provides an effective contrast to darker or red plants.
Source
Flowgrow
Characteristic
Fresh light green
Small leaves
Carpet-like or bushy growth
Hardly available in trade
Complete Botanical Name
Elatíne triándra Schkuhr
Family
Elatinaceae
Genus
Elatine
Category
Ground Cover
Difficulty
medium
Growth
fast
Carbon Dioxide
need
pH Value
5-7
Temperature Tolerance
10-28℃
Carbonate Hardness
2-14 dKH
General Hardness
0-30 °dGH
Propagation
Seeds, Cuttings, Splitting, Cutting off daughter plants
Can Grow Emersed?
yes
Aquascaping
well-branched, bushy
