Shade mudflower

Description

Micranthemum umbrosum is native to southeastern US states from Texas to Florida and Virginia, as well as parts of Central and South America. It grows in ponds, ditches, and rivulets, often emersed in summer and submersed in winter. The plant requires a relatively strong lighting of at least 0.5 W/L for good growth, and a lack of light can cause it to throw off lower leaves or grow holey leaves. Without additional CO2 injection, its growth rate decreases significantly. M. umbrosum can be propagated by cutting off a main shoot and re-planting it in the substrate, which will quickly form new roots and grow into a stand-alone plant. The plant tends to produce lateral shoots that develop in leaf axils, and frequent trimming can create dense plant mats. Emersed cultivation with moist air and a wet substrate can enhance growth rate and produce tiny white flowers similar to Hemianthus species. It is typically planted in the middle or background of an aquascape, but strong lighting can induce it to grow flat and creeping, making it suitable for the foreground.