Helanthium 'Quadricostatus'
Alternate Names:
Dwarf Sword Plant
Helanthium 'Quadricostatus' is a great foreground option that can form tidy low growth and add texture, especially when given stable conditions and patience. It adapts well with or without CO₂.
Care At-A-Glance
Difficulty: Very Easy
Type: Rosette plant with stolons (runners)
Size: 7-10 cm in height
Position and Usage: Extremely versatile: Lawn, Foreground, Midground and Background (in very small tanks)
CO2 Requirements: Not required
Growth Rate: Fast
Lighting: 1/5 - 3/5 Temperature: 18-30°C (20-26°C optimum)
Water Conditions: pH between 5 to 7.5, water hardness unimportant
Propagation/Reproduction: Runners (Stolons) - baby plants may be cut off stolons (runners) and planted independently. Special Requirements: Very few special requirements. As a root feeder H. quadricostatus does appreciate a nutrient rich substrate and a neutral to acidic pH that is common in planted aquariums. Does quite well in even inert aquarium gravel in an existing tank that has been enriched with fish poop and food. Emersed: Grows well in terrariums, Wabi Kusa and Paludariums. When fully emersed, rosettes are ~10cm tall and 20cm across. Will produce flowers, fruits and seeds
Detailed Information
Overview
Helanthium quadricostatus ( Helanthium bolivianum 'Quadricostatus', Echinodorus bolivianus 'Magdalenensis', Echinodorus quadricostatus, Chain Sword, Amazon Chain Sword Plant, Dwarf Amazon Sword Plant ) A beautiful light green rosette plant from Central and South America that is extremely undemanding and easy to grow and well suited to beautiful foregrounds in low-tech tanks. H.
quadricostatus resembles a slightly larger, more robust Helanthium tennelum , Helanthium quadricostatus has very reasonable lighting requirements and thrives without CO2. This fairly small, fast growing plant is suitable for any tank and will quickly spread as a lawn. It's crisp, green leaves are serene to look at and contrast nicely with darker green plants. It grows well in patches where adults will send runners to produce new plants nearby.
References and Further Reading