TankBud

Dwarf chain sword

Ranalisma rostratum

Also known as Ranalisma rostrata, Dwarf chain amazon, Ranalisma

FreshwaterCarpetingRunners
Dwarf chain sword (Ranalisma rostratum)
probably Matilda Smith (1854-1926) · Public domain

Care at a glance

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

Overview

A rosette plant that behaves as a spreading foreground carpet, sending runners out to knit clumps into a lawn 4 to 6 cm tall. It is a root feeder, so a nutrient-rich substrate or root tabs help, and it shows iron deficiency quickly as pale yellow new leaves. It prefers medium to strong light with CO2 for compact growth; thin dense stands and trim stray runners.

In the wild

Native to shallow wetlands and marshy ground across tropical Asia, including parts of China (Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, where it is very rare), India, peninsular Malaysia and Vietnam. Emersed it forms small spoon-shaped leaves and white flowers; submersed it puts out narrow light-green ribbon leaves. It creeps outward on runners to form a low lawn.

Good to know

A member of the water-plantain family (Alismataceae), so it is a genuine relative of the true chain swords (Helanthium/Echinodorus) rather than a grass. The correct botanical name is Ranalisma rostratum; 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.

Did you know

Did you know this plant has stayed a genuine rarity in the Western hobby despite being an easy grower, showing up mostly in Asian nurseries and rarely in European or American shops.

Where to buy

Some links may not be the exact species or variety.

…or ask your local fish store.

Appears in

Foreground plants · Carpeting plants

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