Murdannia engelsii Red Murdannia

This unusual aquarium plant was long known as Murdannia sp. "Red". We are informed that it belongs to Murdannia engelsii. This species was scientifically described in 2016 and occurs in the Amazonian, Cerrado and Pantanal region of Brazil, growing on sandy riverbanks. In their terrestrial form, the creeping shoots have inconspicuous green leaves. When it is planted under water, the plant develops striking brown-orange-red, slightly transparent leaves with very wavy leaves on ascending, often curved stems. New side shoots appear on the lower nodes of the stems. Murdannia engelsii is moderately demanding. It should be well lit, and a good macro- and micronutrient supply, as well as CO₂ addition, are important for its healthy growth. Nutrient deficiency may lead to early melt and blackening of older leaves. Under favourable conditions the plant may grow quite fast. It is easily propagated by cuttings. This exotic looking Commelinaceae from tropical South America is still a rarity. With its spreading growth habit, Murdannia engelsii looks best as a solitary bush in the midground of an aquarium. This plant is in aquarium culture for some time as Murdannia sp. 'Red' and Murdannia sp. from Pantanal but still not well-known. It entered the aquarium trade probably in Japan first. The Brazilian botanist Marco Octávio de Oliveira Pellegrini identified it as Murdannia engelsii, based on photos of the emersed, flowering plant from Massimo Iannella (pers. comm. ). This species was scientifically described in 2016 and is known from the Amazonian, the Cerrado and the Pantanal region of Brazil. It occurs on sandy riverbanks. unknown stem plant whose natural origins are still very much in the dark. What can be said is that it belongs to the Commelinaceae family, but it is even unclear whether it truly belongs in the genus Murdannia. Under water, this plant develops strongly undulate leaves with a thin membrane and brownish red to pink coloured leaves. The lateral veins are of a slightly darker colour, which gives the leaf a marbled look. The alternate leaves grow in two lines and have a lineal form. They grow to a length of up to 9 cm and a width of 1.2 cm. The leaf base on the stem forms a sheath of around 5 mm in length. The stems grow to a diameter of around 2.5 mm, are rather rigid and have a light green to reddish colour. Their growth habit is often overhanging, with a moderate ramification. Murdannia engelsii mostly comes into trade after being cultivated emersed, thus its looks are rather inconspicuous. The emersed stems have a creeping growth habit, are of a brownish red, and their leaves are medium green, slightly undulate and rather robust-looking.

Flowgrow

Unusual stem plant from South America Reddish, narrow, wavy leaves Loosely upright growth habit Rare, hardly available in trade elsewhere

Murdannia sp. 'Red', Murdannia sp. (from Pantanal)

Murdánnia engélsii M.Pell.

Commelinaceae

Murdannia

Background

medium

medium

need

5-7

20-28℃

0-10 dKH

0-30 °dGH

Cuttings

yes