Plant ID please

[Sedwen]

Could you please identify these two plants together with any information you know on their care. I believe the first one is lilaeopsis brasiliensis, but as for the second one I am clueless. At first I thought it was non-aquatic but it has been in my tank nearly 6 weeks and isn't going brown but at the same time isn't growing much either.

Both are planted in a 10 gallon, in silica sand and with one 18w bulb. The tank has just cycled, no livestock in as yet. I would also like to hear any suggestions to improve my current setup. I used the sand on a whim, but could I mix in or top it off with anything more beneficial? I'd like to keep it low tech.

Cheers!

 

[hotweldfire]

Sorry mate, can't see your pics.

 

[Sedwen]

lol.....it was ok in the preview :? How bout now.........?

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
Second one looks like Lobelia cardinalis which has been grown emersed, the red "spiky" shoots are the flower spikes. I've never grown it in an aquarium, so I can't tell you if it will adapt to submersed living.

Have a look a here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plants/plant_finder/plant_pages/495.shtml

The first plant could well be Lilaeopsis sp.

cheers Darrel

 

[Sedwen]

Thanks for your response Darrel but Lobelia cardinalis doesn't really look like the one I have:

http://www.theplanttank.co.uk/aquadistri-lobelia-cardinalis-p-266.html
http://www.aquahobby.com/garden/e_lobelia.php
http://www.seapets.co.uk/products/a...ts/lobelia-cardinalis-aquarium-plant-pot.html

Just been researching leaf shapes and if this helps:

Shape: Linear/Lanceolate
Tip: Obtuse
Margin: Undulate
Base: Rounded
Attachment: Pertiolate
Arrangement: Opposite
Habitat: Ascending/Erect

Source: http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/education/images/a_glossary_leaf_shapes.jpg

Don't know how accurate or helpful that info will be, but there you go!

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

Thanks for your response Darrel but Lobelia cardinalis doesn't really look like the one I have:

I agree, it doesn't look anything like the submersed grown ones, but the flower spike looks fairly convincing. It is definitely an plant that is trying to flower, so it has almost certainly been grown emersed. If you really want to know I'd pot it up, keep it damp and let it flower. The advantage of this is that the classification of plants is based upon their floral morphology, for example Lilaeopsis and Hydrocotyle belong to the same family (Apiaceae) as Carrots and Cow Parsley.

The glossary of leaf shapes is useful. For the Lobeliaceae the leaves are "simple and alternate", so that would also suggest that it isn't L. cardinalis. Acanthaceae is another possibility as a family.

Attachment: Pertiolate

This should be "petiolate" (possessing a petiole, this is the "stalk" of the leaf, the blade is the "lamina").

cheers Darrel

 

[Sedwen]

Thanks for the info Darrel. Do you think this plant may be found submersed naturally as I don't want to really keep anything in there that wouldn't be found naturally.