Lilaeopsis brasiliensis

Taxobox
name = "Lilaeopsis cordifolius"
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Apiales
familia = Apiaceae (or Umbelliferae)
genus = "Lilaeopsis"
species = "L. brasiliensis"
binomial = "Lilaeopsis brasiliensis"
binomial_authority = Affolter (1985)

Common names

Micro Sword

ynonyms

"Craztzia brasiliensis"Commonly sold as L. novae zelandiae - a true species from New Zealand but it doesn't yet seem to have been introduced into the aquarium trade.

Origins

found in South America

Description

A short-stemmed plant with pale green leaves that in the right conditions form a short carpet. Reaches a height of from about 1.5 - 3 inches (4 - 7cm).

Cultivation

Used in the foreground of the aquarium. To grow well it needs a very bright light, and a tropical temperature range. It prefers a good substrate, a nutriment rich water and will benefit from additional CO2. According to "Tropica" it will tolerate some salt in the water. Slow growing.

Propagates from runners which are readily formed but it can take some time to form the mat effect desired in planted aquariums.

References

* Affolter, J. M. 1985. A monograph of the genus Lilaeopsis (Umbelliferae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 6:38.

External links

* [http://www.tropica.com/productcard_1.asp?id=040 Tropica]
* [http://www.aquahobby.com/garden/e_lilaebras.php AquaHobby]
* [http://aquarium-journal.com/2007/05/micro-sword-lilaeopsis-brasiliensis.html Aquarium Journal]