Harman Patil (Editor)

Bolbitis heudelotii

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Kingdom
  
Order
  
Genus
  
Higher classification
  
Bolbitis

Division
  
Pteridophyta

Family
  
Elaphoglossaceae

Scientific name
  
Bolbitis heudelotii

Rank
  
Species

Bolbitis heudelotii aquaticmagcomwpcontentuploads201410Bolbitis

Similar
  
Microsorum, Microsorum pteropus, Anubias, Bolbitis, Anubias barteri

Bolbitis heudelotii, also known as the African water fern, creeping fern, and Congo fern, is native to subtropical and tropical Africa, from Ethiopia west to Senegal; and down to northern South Africa.

Contents

Bolbitis heudelotii Bolbitis heudelotii Tropica Aquarium Plants

Bolbitis heudelotii


Description

Bolbitis heudelotii African Water Fern Bolbitis heudelotii

Bolbitis heudelotii, named for the botanical explorer of West Africa Jean-Pierre Heudelot (1802-1837), is an aquatic Polypody fern growing submerged in rivers and streams, attached to rocks or wood by the threadlike rootlets extending from its rhizomes. It has dark green, pinnate leaves 15–40 cm long and 15–25 cm broad. It grows submerged. The water in its native habitat is fast-moving over sandy or rocky bottoms, very clean, not very hard and slightly acidic. The roots cling to rocks and the sandy beds.

Cultivation

Bolbitis heudelotii Bolbitis Heudelotii Caresheet Aquatic Mag

In the aquarium, B. heudelotii requires water temperatures of 20-28 °C and moderately acidic ('soft') to neutral water with a pH range of 5.0-7.0, but tolerates a wide range of light levels. It does best in flowing water.

Bolbitis heudelotii Bolbitis Heudelotii Caresheet Aquatic Mag

This species is often used as a midground specimen plant in tropical freshwater aquaria. Propagation is from divisions and cuttings from the rhizome.

Bolbitis heudelotii African Water Fern Bolbitis heudelotii

It seems to be intolerant to being crowded and to fish excreta. It is best grown secured to a piece of wood rather than planted direct in the substrate. Additional CO2 seems to boost growth and it grows best in a rather shady position.

Propagation is by division of the rhizome. It is a slow-growing plant.

References

Bolbitis heudelotii Wikipedia


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