Yet another plant ID needed

[Peyton]

Went on a little trip yesterday and came back with lots of new plants. I got a onion plant, giant hygro, crypt lucea, an amazon sword, and 5 or six others. Here is a couple I'm not 100% sure about.

purple and silver one in this pic
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b207/peglegburnout/08282006002.jpg
I was thinking something like Alternanthera?

and this one
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b207/peglegburnout/08282006001.jpg
I think it's ludwigia glandulosa?

 

[travis simonson]

The first plant looks a lot like Hemigraphis repanda aka Dragon's Tongue. I've seen this sold as a true aquatic plant before but I suspect it is actually a marginal/bog plant and may not do well in the long term when kept submersed. I would keep your eye on it and pull it out of the tank if it shows signs of disintegrating.

The second pic could certainly be L. glandulosa. I have a hard time telling what color it is in the picture but the leaves certainly resemble L. glandulosa and if the leaves are a nice red/wine color then that's likely what you've got A great plant that likes lots of light.

 

[malkore]

No clue on #2, but that first one looks a lot like Dragon's Flame that I once bought, with isn't a true aquatic, so I think Travis is right, that its not a true aquatic simliar to what I had, which rotted away in a few days.

 

[Peyton]

Oh well. If it starts to rot then I guess I'll just have another little potted plant to go along with my green hedge.

 

[joannde]

It really bugs me when they sell plants for tanks that aren't true aquatics ! I came home with three mondo grass pieces the other day - I didn't bother to look it up until AFTER I planted it. It really looked nice but I ripped it back up and traded them in for a second sword.
And the girls at the PetSmart actually told me that it IS a true aquatic, to boot, when I brought it back. I said "ok, whatever, lets just say I changed my mind and want a sword instead"

 

[Peyton]

Ok, I got one more I can't figure out.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b207/peglegburnout/08292006002.jpg

The total length is about 3".

 

[Purrbox]

Looks like it might be Elatine Triandra.

 

[mr funktastic]

that last one looks like hygro polysperma just growing sideways. mine does this under high light.

 

[Peyton]

Looks like it might be Elatine Triandra.

Yea, I think that might be it. What do you use for reference Purrbox, or do you just know that many plants? I can never figure plant ID's out and I have several plant books .

 

[Purrbox]

That just happens to be one of the plants I have. I tend to be fairly descent at recognizing the ones that I've had for any reasonable length of time.

 

[travis simonson]

Again I have to agree with Purrbox: that is without a doubt Elatine triandra. It is one of the best ground-cover plants I have ever kept. It grows very quickly, is quite invasive, but if kept trimmed will make an incredible carpet. Better than even Glosso in my opinion. Nice, nice little plant

 

[mr funktastic]

how tall does this plant grow? i like the look of it. i dont think it would be good for a smaller tank though.

 

[travis simonson]

E. triandra is a ground-creeping plant that doesn't get over 1" above the substrate when it is happy. It grows in a manner almost identical to Glosso, although it isn't quite as picky. I love the stuff. It almost looks fluffy when it gets thick

 

[Purrbox]

I definately wouldn't put it in anything smaller than a 10 gallon as it spreads much too quickly. I still haven't decided whether or not I feel that it grows too quickly for a 10 gallon. When it's not getting quite as much light it grows upward and makes a very attractive stem plant. It's also a great indicator plant for when your Fe is too low.

 

[Peyton]

I've had this little clump of the stuff for a few weeks and it has doubled in size since. I just moved it from my 20gal to the 40gal. It was being taken over by dwarf saggitaria. I really need to decide what ground cover I'm going to use in the 40. Currently I have 4 leaf clover, dwarf sag, Hairgrass, and now elatine triandra. I do have a unused 20gal tall, I wonder if... no my wife would kill me if I setup another tank .

 

[mr funktastic]

dont tell her!!! just hide it in the closet. but when she askes what that weird glo is coming from the closet just tell her u are breeding super nuclear mutant monkeys so she wont be suspicious

 

[TwoHobbies]

Ok Peyton, Ignore the advice from the Single Guy , unless of course you want to be one!