Aponogeton madagascariensis

Aponogeton madagascariensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
Order: Alismatales
Family: Aponogetonaceae
Genus: Aponogeton
Species: A. madagascariensis
Binomial name
Aponogeton madagascariensis
(Mirb.) H. Bruggen
Synonyms
  • Aponogeton fenestralis
  • Uvirandra madagascariensis Mirb. (basionym)

Aponogeton madagascariensis is commonly known as Madagascar laceleaf, lattice leaf or lace plant. It is an aquatic plant native to Madagascar and is popularly sold for use in aquariums. It is endangered in the wild.

Description

It is an aquatic monocotyledonous perennial plant with tuberous rhizomes 3 centimetres (1.2 in) in diameter. The leaves are oblong, the leaf blade 15–55 cm long and from 5–16 cm broad, with a total leaf length including the petiole of up to 65 centimetres (26 in). The leaves spread horizontally beneath the surface of the water, and are little more than a lattice-like skeletal network of veins with no tissue between. The flowers are produced on an erect spike up to 1 metre (39 in) long, sticking up to 20 centimetres (7.9 in) above the water surface. There seem to be several forms of this plant in cultivation, some large, some much smaller.[1][2]

Cultivation and uses

The tuberous roots are edible. It requires water temperatures of 15-26 °C and pH of 5-7.5, and grows best in medium - bright light with about 600 Lux.[3][4][5] The substrate should be rich in nutrients.

It is a speciality in botanical gardens all over the world. It used to be in such high demand that it almost became extinct in its natural habitat in Madagascar.[6]

It is often regarded as a difficult plant to cultivate. This is mainly due to several problems: 1) it likes bright light and this encourages algal growth which is difficult to clear from the leaves; 2) newly imported bulbs grow well in the first year but often fail in the second year, apparently due to a lack of food in the bulbs (cause still unknown); 3) seeds may be produced but often fail to germinate or thrive. Some enthusiasts recommend strong water movement and high filtration.

References

  1. ↑ Bruggen, H. W. E. van (1968) "Revision of the genus Aponogeton (Aponogetonaceae) 1. The species of Madagascar" Blumea 16:249–250.
  2. ↑ van Bruggen, H. W. E. (1985). "Monograph of the genus Aponogeton (Aponogetonaceae)". Bibliotheca botanica. Stuttgart: E. Schweizerbart'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung. 33 (137): i–viii, 1–76. ISBN 978-3-510-48008-1. ISSN 0067-7892. Retrieved 2010-03-13.
  3. ↑ Tropica: Aponogeton madagascariensis
  4. ↑ Huxley, A., ed. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. Macmillan ISBN 0-333-47494-5.
  5. ↑ Aquabase: Aponogeton madagascariensis (in French)
  6. ↑ Hiscock, P. (2003). Encyclopedia of Aquarium Plants. Interpret Publishing, United States and Canada ISBN 0-7641-5521-0.

External links

Wikisource has the text of the 1920 Encyclopedia Americana article Latticeleaf.
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