TankBud

Aciotis acuminifolia

Also known as Spennera acuminifolia, Melastomataceae sp. 'Sao Francisco'

FreshwaterStemCuttingsSide shoots

Aciotis acuminifolia (Aciotis acuminifolia)
(c) James Hardee, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by

Care at a glance

Light
High light
CO2
CO₂ required
Temperature
64–86°F
18–30°C
Max height
15.7 in
40 cm
Growth rate
Slow
Placement
Midground
Type
Stem
pH
5.0–7.0
Hardness
0–7 dGH
Spread
3.1 in (8 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root + water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Difficult
Family
Melastomataceae
Origin
Tropical South America (aquarium stock probably from the Rio Sao Francisco, eastern Brazil)

Overview

Aciotis acuminifolia is a demanding stem plant for the midground of a high-tech tank with soft water. It is rated difficult and does well only with strong lights, CO2 and regular feeding.

Did you know

Melastomataceae has thousands of species on land but almost no true aquatics. That makes Aciotis acuminifolia one of the very few melastomes you can keep underwater.

Caring for Aciotis acuminifolia

Strip the leaves from the lower part of each stem and push the stems into the substrate one at a time. Leave space between them in the midground rather than crowding the group.

Aciotis acuminifolia needs high light and injected CO2, ideally in the 20 to 40 mg/l range. It feeds through both roots and leaves, so pair root tabs or a rich substrate with a liquid fertilizer. Keep macro and micro nutrients coming in a steady supply. Soft, acidic water suits it best, around pH 5 to 7 and GH 0 to 7, at 64 to 86°F (18 to 30°C).

Growth is slow for a stem plant, so it rarely needs trimming. Propagate it by cuttings, and let the side shoots it readily produces thicken the group.

Hard water or a lean tank makes it stunt and lose its color. Because it grows so slowly, keep the leaves clean of algae.

Good to know

Aciotis acuminifolia is a member of Melastomataceae, a huge tropical family. It circulated for years under the placeholder name Melastomataceae sp. 'Sao Francisco' before anyone identified it. Spennera acuminifolia is an older synonym. Its four-angled stems and opposite leaves, with the family's arching parallel veins, give it away. The leaf undersides flush red under strong light.

In the wild

Aciotis acuminifolia is widespread in tropical South America, where it grows as a marsh herb on wet, shaded ground along streams and riverbanks. It lives mostly emersed and spends only part of the year underwater, which is typical for the swampy melastomes. The plants in the hobby are thought to trace back to the Rio Sao Francisco region of eastern Brazil.

Common questions

Does Aciotis acuminifolia need to be planted in the substrate?

Yes. Strip the leaves from the lower part of each stem, then push the stems into the substrate one at a time, a little apart.

Does Aciotis acuminifolia need CO2?

Yes. Aciotis acuminifolia needs injected CO2 to grow well, and it usually struggles without it.

How much light does Aciotis acuminifolia need?

Aciotis acuminifolia needs high light from a strong planted-tank LED. In weaker light its stems stretch and drop their lower leaves.

Does Aciotis acuminifolia need root tabs?

They help. Aciotis acuminifolia takes nutrients through both its roots and its leaves. Root tabs near its roots and a liquid fertilizer cover both.

How do you propagate Aciotis acuminifolia?

Aciotis acuminifolia propagates by cuttings and side shoots. Cut off the top of a stem and replant it, and the stump left behind grows new shoots. Cut a side shoot off once it has a few leaves and plant it on its own.

How tall does Aciotis acuminifolia grow?

Aciotis acuminifolia grows to about 15.7 in (40 cm) tall. It grows slowly and rarely needs trimming.

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