Aquarium Plants
When considering plants for your aquarium, keep in mind their uses for providing oxygen and purification as well as creating a beautiful setting.
Only 5 kinds of plants have come into general use.
Three favorites have running stems to which leaves are attached.
They are Myriophyllum, Cabomba, and Anarcharis.
The other two are in grassy form - Vallisneria and Sagittaria.
Each is easily obtained and propagated.
The Vallisneria species has a tall graceful grass like form with narrow silken light green leaves that rise vertically in undulating lines.
It gives a charm to an aquarium that is both aquatic and artistic.
The plant multiplies rapidly in moderately good light and forms a dense but not impenetrable thicket or screen.
It is a good oxygenator and it's roots tend to purify the soil.
The Sagittaria is a famous old aquarium plant having a grasslike form.
This plant comes in many more species than Vallisneria.
The three most popular are Sagisttaria gigantea, Sagisttaria natans, and Sagistarria subulata.
The strong green leaves of Sagittaria gigantea are a half inch or more wide and 7 to 14 inches in length.
They are firm and stand a fair amount of buffeting by nets, once they are well rooted.
The roots become quite vigorous and should be planted 2 inches deep.
The Sagittaria natans is the original Sagittaria of the aquarium and was very popular, especially in the early days of the fancy Goldfish.
In the larger Goldfish tank it was replaced by Sagittaria gigantea.
Since the popularity of tropical fishes has spread, it has become welcome in smaller aquariums.
It does not grow very long and does not usually tangle.
Its 2 to 8 inch leaves are strong and the plant is a long-lived good oxygenator.
The Sagittaria subulata species has become very popular.
Its leaves are narrower and thicker.
They are also a darker green and straighter.
These leaves are from 5 to 10 inches long and rather wiry.
All of these aquatic species of Sagittaria throw up summer stalks which develop long leaves above the water surface.
Flower stems bear pretty white cup flowers with a yellow ball in the center.
The Cabomba when in good condition is one of the brightest and most beautiful aquarium greens.
It's used chiefly for its attractiveness and plentiful supply.
Its fan shaped leaves on a running stem form a good refuge for young fishes.
Anacharis is accepted as an excellent oxygenator, and is one of the fastest growing aquarium plants, up to an inch a day.
When rapid growth occurs in poor lighting, the plants lack vigor.
Anacharis does best in outdoor ponds out of full sun, where it produces gorgeous thick leaf masses.
Myriophyllum is a plant of delicate beauty.
Its fine leaves attached to a stem make a perfect maze for catching the spawn of egg dropping fishes.
It naturally floats just below the surface and can be firmly fastened to the bottom.
Bits of its feathery leaves are introduced into the construction of breeding nests of some fishes.
These are just a few of the wide variety of plants available for fish lovers everywhere.
Only 5 kinds of plants have come into general use.
Three favorites have running stems to which leaves are attached.
They are Myriophyllum, Cabomba, and Anarcharis.
The other two are in grassy form - Vallisneria and Sagittaria.
Each is easily obtained and propagated.
The Vallisneria species has a tall graceful grass like form with narrow silken light green leaves that rise vertically in undulating lines.
It gives a charm to an aquarium that is both aquatic and artistic.
The plant multiplies rapidly in moderately good light and forms a dense but not impenetrable thicket or screen.
It is a good oxygenator and it's roots tend to purify the soil.
The Sagittaria is a famous old aquarium plant having a grasslike form.
This plant comes in many more species than Vallisneria.
The three most popular are Sagisttaria gigantea, Sagisttaria natans, and Sagistarria subulata.
The strong green leaves of Sagittaria gigantea are a half inch or more wide and 7 to 14 inches in length.
They are firm and stand a fair amount of buffeting by nets, once they are well rooted.
The roots become quite vigorous and should be planted 2 inches deep.
The Sagittaria natans is the original Sagittaria of the aquarium and was very popular, especially in the early days of the fancy Goldfish.
In the larger Goldfish tank it was replaced by Sagittaria gigantea.
Since the popularity of tropical fishes has spread, it has become welcome in smaller aquariums.
It does not grow very long and does not usually tangle.
Its 2 to 8 inch leaves are strong and the plant is a long-lived good oxygenator.
The Sagittaria subulata species has become very popular.
Its leaves are narrower and thicker.
They are also a darker green and straighter.
These leaves are from 5 to 10 inches long and rather wiry.
All of these aquatic species of Sagittaria throw up summer stalks which develop long leaves above the water surface.
Flower stems bear pretty white cup flowers with a yellow ball in the center.
The Cabomba when in good condition is one of the brightest and most beautiful aquarium greens.
It's used chiefly for its attractiveness and plentiful supply.
Its fan shaped leaves on a running stem form a good refuge for young fishes.
Anacharis is accepted as an excellent oxygenator, and is one of the fastest growing aquarium plants, up to an inch a day.
When rapid growth occurs in poor lighting, the plants lack vigor.
Anacharis does best in outdoor ponds out of full sun, where it produces gorgeous thick leaf masses.
Myriophyllum is a plant of delicate beauty.
Its fine leaves attached to a stem make a perfect maze for catching the spawn of egg dropping fishes.
It naturally floats just below the surface and can be firmly fastened to the bottom.
Bits of its feathery leaves are introduced into the construction of breeding nests of some fishes.
These are just a few of the wide variety of plants available for fish lovers everywhere.
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