Bolbitis heudelotii

Description

Bolbitis heudelotii (African water fern) is native to tropical Africa, where it grows on rocks or driftwood with its roots in rapidly flowing rivers and rivulets. The plant has a creeping rhizome that supports single to double pinnate, transparent leaves of a bottle-green color when submerged, and single pinnate, matte green leaves with a harder texture when emersed. It is a slow-growing plant that develops best when attached to rocks or driftwood and requires a strong current and CO2 supplementation for optimal growth. Soft, slightly acidic water is ideal. Propagation occurs by separating the rhizome into pieces with at least three leaves. The pinnate, dark green, transparent leaves make this plant a beautiful addition to most aquarium layouts, especially in the middleground of a tank layout.