Vietnam Limnophila

Limnophila sp. 'Vietnam' is a small stem plant that turned up in the United States and Asia first and reached Europe shortly after, and it is still uncommon in shops. Its submersed leaves are lineal to lanceolate with an acute tip and a weakly serrate edge, a couple of centimetres long, arranged in whorls of five to seven. Left to itself the plant stays low and bushy, usually around 10 cm, which is what makes it useful as a midground filler and a nano-tank plant.

It grows at 22 to 27 °C and pH 4.5 to 7, with high light and CO₂ running. Under moderate light the plant is plain light green; strong light brings reddish-brown into the midribs and stems. It grows fast and increases by runners, cuttings and division at once, so a single clump fills out quickly. Trimming it regularly is what keeps the mat dense instead of leggy, and the pieces removed can be replanted straight away.