echinodorus tenellus

[chappy]

Hi Guys,
I am currently planting up a small 2ft tank in preparation for a pair of dwarfs. Just wondering about the tenellus used to carpet the front area.
Have noticed it is putting some runners out after a week but also some type of stem is appearing upwards of the leaves. Is this a runner and should I replant them under the gravel or are they some type of flower and should I just leave them.
Any help appreciated.
Cheers Marc

 

[dw1305]

Hi Marc,
Not sure about Echinodorus tenellus, but sounds like the flower stalk you get on larger Amazon Swords. The larger ones produce new plantlets all along the stem, but if they can reach the water surface they flower with a pretty white 3 petalled flower. I've grown an Amazon sword in very shallow water, and became a large plant, and looked much more like a Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) when it wasn't in flower, despite the fact that 90% of it was out of the water it seemed quite happy.
cheers Darrel

 

[dw1305]

Sword plants 2

Hi Marc,
Just found this:
<http://www.aquatic-gardeners.org/Chainswords-NeilFrank.htm>
very intersting and should answer all your questions.
Darrel

 

[ed seeley]

Chain swords like tennellus can throw up flower stalks sometimes but I've never had them do that submersed. They do sometimes throw runners up vertically in amongst the leaves though so it could be one of those. Either way I'd leave it and see what happens - you should soon be able to tell whether it's a runner or a flower stem.