Aponogeton natans

Compared to its relatives this is a delicate & somewhat dainty plant, native to Sri Lanka and India. Leaves narrow, oblong to lanceolate & prefer to float on the surface.

Narrow leaf petioles are usually the only part of the plant below water level.

For this reason it suits small tanks where its larger relatives could never fit. Its corms are very petite - so far the largest one I have seen was only about 1 cm in diameter.

It appears able to detect changing water levels easily. Should the level drop, the next leaf to be produced will only grow to the surface no matter how long previous leaves were.

When water levels rise, the next leaf to be produced keeps growing until it finds the surface. It’s quite remarkable to see this adaptation.

It blooms very freely and frequently - a few inches of open space above water gives its flower spikes room to show off. Flower spikes look snowy white but close inspection reveals tiny apricot yellow blossoms.

I do not know if it goes dormant periodically but so far mine have not done so in about a year.

This image shows one just added to a tank so the petioles are of several different lengths.

These leaf blades are floating.

Flower spike.