- Bolbitis heudelotii
Taxobox
name = Bolbitis heudelotii
image_width = 240px
regnum =Plant ae
divisio =Pteridophyta
classis =Pteridopsida
ordo =Dryopteridales
familia =Lomariopsidaceae
genus = "Bolbitis "
species = "B. heudelotii"
binomial = "Bolbitis heudelotii"
binomial_authority = (Bory ex Fée) AlstonCommon names
African Water Fern, Creeping Fern, Congo Fern
Origin
tropical and subtropical
Africa , fromEthiopia west toSenegal and south to northernSouth Africa .Germplasm Resources Information Network: [http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?412475 "Bolbitis heudelotii"] ]Description
It is an aquatic
fern growing submerged in rivers and streams, attached to rocks or wood by itsrhizome s. It has dark green, pinnate leaves 15-40 cm long and 15-25 cm broad. 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. It grows submerged.Cultivation
A rather demanding plant in the
aquarium . It requires water temperatures of 20-28 °C, moderately acidic ('soft') to neutral water with apH range of 5.0-7.0, and tolerates a wide range of light levels. It does best in flowing water.Tropica: [http://www.tropica.dk/productcard.asp?id=006 "Bolbitis heudelotii"] ] Vumba Nature Reserve: [http://www.vumba-nature.com/list%20ferns.htm Fern list] ] FNZAS: [http://www.fnzas.org.nz/plant_survey/aquarium_plants/?user_plants=21&cHash=d4154bac20 "Bolbitis heudelotii"] ]This species is often used as a midground specimen
freshwater plant in tropical aquaria. Propagation is from by cuttings from the rhizome. [Hiscock, P. (2003). "Encyclopedia of Aquarium Plants" Interpret Publishing, United States and Canada ISBN 0-7641-5521-0]It seems to be intolerant to being crowded and to fish excreta. [Schmidt, Dr Jurgen, P. (2002). "Aquarium Plants" Interpret Publishing, UK ISBN 1-84286-034-8] 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. Slow growing.
Propagation is by division of the rhizome.
References
External references
* [http://www.tropica.dk/productcard_1.asp?id=006 Tropica]
* [http://www.aquahobby.com/garden/e_bolbitis.php AquaHobby]
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