Pistia stratiotes is a popular pond plant that also makes a good indoor aquarium plant. It has attractive thick, green leaves and trailing, elegant roots, which are especially good for set-ups with fry.
Pistia stratiotes (family Araceae) is a floating plant. Sometimes called water lettuce because of its colour and appearance. This is a very fast growing plant that demands high light and nutrients.
AF Mini AF pussilus NA variegated AF Pilea AF Sclaginella widenowii AF Spatiphyllum AF wallissii AF Syngonium podophyllum AF Floating species: Azolla caroliniana NA Hydrocharis morsus-renae (Water Poppy) NA, DE Lemna minor NA, BA Pistia stratiotes BA, ...
· Few floating plants Pistia stratiotes (again see Pic. 1)
The beginning was not that easy: too much "techie stuff" (i.e.: rubber bands) in sight but then, slowly, things started to change.
Pistia stratiotes (water lettuce) Very demanding plant that prefers full sun (where it will grow the size of actual lettuce) over aquarium conditions (where it might be the size of a quarter). Reproduces by runners. Buy at water garden supply stores.
Baby Water Lettuce (young Pistia stratiotes): I have had really good success with Baby Water Lettuce in the natives tank. The Water Lettuce is a floating plant and sends out branching roots that topminnows and their young like to hide among.
Table 2 shows how fast nitrate and ammonium is removed from the water by the water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes). Plants placed in nutrient solution containing 0.025 mg/l of nitrate-N required 18 hours to take up the nitrates.
Examples of floating plants are Pistia stratiotes (Water Lettuce -- see photo), Salvinia auriculata (Butterfly Fern), Riccia, and Java Moss.
Designing Your Aquarium Garden ...
Fairy Moss (Azolla Caroliniana)
Java Moss (Vesicularia Dubyana)
Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demursum)
Riccia (Riccia Fluitans)
Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) ...
 See also: Plants, Water, Aquarium, Species, Fish
  
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