Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Aquatic & Hydrophyte |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Tropical Africa |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Aquatic |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native (Horticultural / Cultivated Only) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | An aquatic bulb. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | The leaves, arranged in a rosette are red and variegated with maroon spots, making it an attractive plant to have. The submerged, heart shaped leaves have an entire, undulating margin and turn red under bright light. The floating leaves lie flat on the water surface and are much bigger then the submerged leaves. Once floating leaves are formed and reach the water surface, the plant will continuously produce floating leaves. |
| Stems | The stem is a bulb. |
| Flowers | The flower is pink and rises above the water surface, it blooms at night. The flower will only develop when the plant has floating leaves. |
| Habitat | It can be found in still or slow-moving water. |
| Cultivation | It is ideally grown under bright light, in water pH of 6.2 to 7.2 and in water temperatures of 22 to 28°C. It is best grown in rich growing medium. The plant has a tendency to form floating leaves under low light conditions. As such, it is best to keep this plant under bright lightning in freshwater aquariums where it is a popular focal plant to prevent it from shading out light for the other plants in the aquarium. Continuous pruning of the floating leaves will help to promote growth of the submerged leaf form. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Others: The plant is popular for use in freshwater aquariums and is often placed as a focal plant due to its attractive foliage. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Foliage |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Pond / Lake / River, Aquarium / Aquascape |
| Thematic Landscaping | Water Garden |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Lots of Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Waterlogged Soils |
| Pruning | To encourage the growth of submerged leaves, continuous pruning of the floating leaves should be done. |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Red, Patterned |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Rosulate / Rosette |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage |
| Foliar Margin | Entire - Wavy / Undulate |
| Foliar Base | Cordate |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Pink |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Solitary |
| Flower Location | Axillary |
| Flowering Opening Time | Night (dusk to dawn) |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 31422 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 5819 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
