LA
Be sure to rinse off the duckweed before it takes over.
The Other Watersprite: Compare this watersprite
with
Watersprite the original
-- which takes on many forms but varies considerably from this variety.
I did not know its species name originally, but have finally figured it
out -- Ceratopteris pteroides.
LA
Ceratopteris pteroides floats high on top of the water.
Note the babies in the notches.
Local Origin: Chuck Bremer (another plant nut) gave me this
original plant when he hied off for Helvetia a nonce ago. (I
probably need to keep better records.) Anyway, he gave me a
strange looking watersprite that floated -- not just on the water
surface, but lifted its fronds a half foot above the surface. So
it's not one designed for your average aquarium. It's too tall for
covered aquaria.
LA
The whole plant floats on top of the water (except the roots).
LA
Like a tree, its rootage roughly equals its foliage.
LA
It grows fronds from a crown like any other fern. Note the daughter
plants.
Indian Fern?
The original watersprite is often called Indian fern -- for its ferniness
and Indianess. This might be another Indian fern?
LA
One of the leaves on the surface kicking out babies.
Reproduction:
My original plant from Chuck did not fare well in my different tank --
different lights and different water. Even though the mother kicked
the bucket, she calved dozens of offspring. They were distributed
among several different tanks.
LA
Emersed leaves grow tinier daughter plants in their notches.
LA
Two-inch daughter plants.
Young 'uns: The little babies start growing their own calves.
These two-inch diameter young sprites are more adaptable than the large
mother plants. If torn during fish netting, each fragment grows
into its own colony.
LA
LA
As mentioned earlier, duckweed does its best to take over. It even
outgrows algae.
Algae Cure? Reducing light discourages the growth of algae.
The watersprite's root system sucks algae encouragers (nitrates and
phosphates) from the water. This also makes for healthier water
for the fish.
LA
Regular watersprite on the left, the "new" type on the right. They
look quite dissimilar.
LA
LA
Somehow, the plant fills the stems of each leaf (frond) with air and
becomes floatable.
LA
They make perfect PFDs for paddletail newts.
LA
Paddletails like to lurk in the roots.
LA
They also get the official seal of approval from Indonesian floating
frogs.
PFDs: Newts and floating frogs find these sprites make ideal
personal floatation devices. All they need is one good-sized leaf.
LA
Easily large enough to cover half a 10 gallon tank. And just
getting a good start.
LA
You can tell it's a fern as you see the new leaves unfurl.
LA
Here's the first totally emersed leaf. Note the thick stem.
LA
Different plant in with small standard plecos.
LA
Second totally emersed leaf.
LA
Close up of the second emersed leaf.
LA
Two days later, this plant now covers half a 20H
LA
A couple more leaves necessitated a move to a 55. It covered half
the surface.
LA
the above water portion of this plant now looks like a plant from
the Arizona desert.
Last
Words: Our "new" watersprite makes a nice addition to larger
and/or uncovered tanks. I've never tried them in a pond, but don't
be surprised if you see them in our pond plant selection next spring. LA
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