TankBud

Ranalisma rostratum

Also known as Ranalisma rostrata, Dwarf chain amazon, Ranalisma

FreshwaterCarpetingRunners

Ranalisma rostratum (Ranalisma rostratum)
Buce Plant · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Light
Medium light
CO2
CO₂ beneficial
Temperature
68–82°F
20–28°C
Max height
3.1 in
8 cm
Growth rate
Medium
Placement
Foreground
Type
Carpeting
pH
6.0–7.5
Hardness
0–30 dGH
Spread
3.9 in (10 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root feeder
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Medium
Family
Alismataceae
Origin
Tropical Asia (China, India, Malaysia, Vietnam)

Overview

Ranalisma rostratum is a small rosette plant that behaves as a spreading foreground carpet. It is rated medium in difficulty.

Did you know

Ranalisma rostratum has stayed a rarity in the Western hobby. It shows up mostly in Asian nurseries and rarely in European or American shops.

Caring for Ranalisma rostratum

Split Ranalisma rostratum into small clumps and push each one into the foreground substrate with tweezers, leaving gaps. Its runners knit the clumps into a lawn 4 to 6 cm tall.

It is a root feeder, so give it a nutrient-rich substrate or root tabs. It shows iron deficiency quickly, as pale yellow new leaves. Medium light works, and stronger light with CO2 keeps growth compact, though it grows without injected CO2. It handles 68 to 82°F (20 to 28°C).

It grows at a moderate pace. Thin dense stands and trim stray runners, and cut a runner plant free once it has roots to start a new clump.

Good to know

Ranalisma rostratum belongs to the water-plantain family, Alismataceae. That makes it a relative of the true chain swords, Helanthium and Echinodorus, rather than a grass. Its correct botanical name is Ranalisma rostratum, and the widely used 'rostrata' is a grammatically incorrect ending. The submersed form closely resembles the light-green form of Helanthium tenellum and is often confused with it.

In the wild

Ranalisma rostratum is native to shallow wetlands and marshy ground across tropical Asia. Its range includes India, peninsular Malaysia, Vietnam and parts of China, where it is very rare in Hunan, Jiangxi and Zhejiang. Emersed, it forms small spoon-shaped leaves and white flowers. Submersed, it puts out narrow, light-green ribbon leaves.

Common questions

Does Ranalisma rostratum need to be planted in the substrate?

Yes. Split it into small clumps and push each one into the substrate with tweezers, leaving gaps for it to fill.

Does Ranalisma rostratum need CO2?

No, but it helps. Ranalisma rostratum can grow without injected CO2, and added CO2 makes it grow faster.

How much light does Ranalisma rostratum need?

Ranalisma rostratum wants medium light. A light sold for planted tanks covers it.

Does Ranalisma rostratum need root tabs?

Yes. Ranalisma rostratum draws much of its food through its roots. Push root tabs in near it, or grow it in a nutrient-rich soil.

How do you propagate Ranalisma rostratum?

Ranalisma rostratum propagates by runners. New plants grow along its runners. Cut one free once it has roots and plant it.

How tall does Ranalisma rostratum grow?

Ranalisma rostratum grows to about 3.1 in (8 cm) tall. It grows at a moderate pace.

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