Hygrophila pinnatifida

This plant differs from the Hygrophila species hitherto kept in aquaria in many respects. Its leaves of the emersed as well as the submersed form are pinnatilobed to pinnatisect and are thus highly decorative. Their upper side is brown to olive green with a light yellowish pattern where the lateral leaf veins fork off the midrib, their underside is of a Burgundy red.
When cultivated submersed, H. pinnatifida develops upright shoots as well as runner-like creeping ones, which can attach to rocks or driftwood with their roots. At the end of these multiply ramified shoots, upright sprouts develop. They can remain rather short for a longer period of time, looking like a rosette then. The stems are of a brown colour and rather tough.

H. pinnatifida does ok under moderate light, however, more intensive lighting helps it grow more compact. A compact growth habit can also be furthered by regularly removing the shoot tips. A good nutrient and CO2 supply is recommendable. This Hygrophila is apparently quite susceptible to a potassium deficiency, whose symptoms are small needleprick-like holes in the older leaves.

The substrate seems to be quite unimportant. The plant forms a rather small, not very deep root system. When pulling the plant out of the ground you will see that the roots attach to sand or gravel grains. The growth rate differs quite a bit depending on the conditions the plant is kept in and its developmental stage. Under moderate light and a limited supply of nutrients and CO2 it grows and reproduces rather slowly, however, under intensive light and an ample macronutrient and CO2 supply, the upright shoots of strong plants may soon reach the water surface. In open tanks, they will probably grow above the waterline and develop flowers after a relatively short time.

This unique Hygrophila is probably most effective when planted in small groups in the middleground of the aquarium, in front of a calm background, where its special leaf form and pattern stand out best. Especially when the plant grows rosulately stout its growth habit reminds of a fern. The very low-growing plantlets developing at the end of the runners can be planted in the foreground in groups. As H. pinnatifida has a rather dark colour spectrum, neighbouring plants with bright, intensive red hues can easily upstage it.
H. pinnatifida surely offers even more possibilities for aquascaping that have not yet been detected, especially regarding its ability to attach to rocks or driftwood with its roots.

*Pictures are not the actual plants you will receive, but a sample representation.