Hygrophila polysperma

Hygrophila polysperma
Hygrophila polysperma in an aquarium
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Acanthaceae
Genus:	Hygrophila
Species:	H. polysperma
Binomial name
Hygrophila polysperma Anderson
Synonyms
Justicia polysperma Hemidelphis polysperma

Hygrophila polysperma, commonly known as dwarf hygrophila, dwarf hygro, Miramar weed or Indian waterweed, is an aquatic plant in the acanthus family. It is native to India and Malaysia, and has also been introduced to the US states of Florida, Texas and possibly Virginia. ^[1] It is listed on the Federal Noxious Weed List in the US and is illegal to import and sell in a number of states including Kansas^[2] and South Carolina.^[3]

Cultivation and uses

Indina waterweed first appeared in the aquarium trade in 1945 under the name "oriental ludwigia".^[1] It is easy to grow and as such a very popular plant for the tropical aquarium. It will grow even faster in good light, a nutriment rich water / substrate and it benefits from additional CO₂. May need to be pruned regularly. Propagated from cuttings. An isolated leaf will often root itself.^{[citation needed]}

In India, its seeds are said to be used as a medication.^{[citation needed]}

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Langeland, K.A.; Burks, K. Craddock (1998), Identification and Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas, Gainesville, Florida: University of Florida, http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/hygpol.pdf 
2. ^ Polanski, Adrian J. (2004) (^{[dead link]}), Federal Noxious Weed Quarantine, Kansas Department of Agriculture, http://www.ksda.gov/includes/document_center/plant_protection/Laws%20and%20Quarantines/FedNXQuarantine.pdf 
3. ^ Aquatic Nuisance Species Program: Illegal Aquatic Plants, South Carolina Department of Resources, http://www.dnr.sc.gov/water/envaff/aquatic/img/hygrophila.pdf 

Further reading

• Angerstein MB, Lemke DE. 1994. First records of the aquatic weed Hygrophila polysperma (Acanthaceae) from Texas. Sida 16:365-71
• Innes WT. 1947. Hygrophila, a new aquarium plant. The Aquarium 16:30-1
• Les DH, Wunderlin RP. 1981. Hygrophila polysperma (Acanthacae). Florida Scientist 44:189-92
• Schmitz DC. 1985. Hygrophila polysperma, A review of the scientific literature. Tech. report. Tallahassee: Fla. Dept. of Natural Resources. 15 pp.
• Vandiver VV. 1980. Hygrophila. Aquatics 2:4-11

External links

• Media related to Hygrophila polysperma at Wikimedia Commons
• Tropica
• Easy aquarium plants: Hygrophila polysperma
• Invasive Aquatic Plants