Eriocaulon breviscapum

Care at a glance

Overview

Grow it as a background plant or a solitary specimen, where the very narrow leaves arch over like a fine-leaved Vallisneria. It wants soft to medium-hard water, a nutrient-rich substrate for its large root system, and medium light; CO2 is not mandatory but is recommended unless the tank carries a decent fish load. It is noticeably less fussy than the small showpiece Eriocaulon species. Propagate by dividing an established clump into rooted sections, and cut rhizome pieces will branch and regrow.

In the wild

Eriocaulon breviscapum is endemic to the Western Ghats of southwest India, where it grows submerged in shallow, fast-flowing mountain rivers. It anchors itself in gravel and between boulders with an unusually strong, deep root system, a build for holding position in current.

Good to know

A pipewort in the family Eriocaulaceae. The epithet breviscapum means short-scaped, referring to the short stalks that carry the genus's little button flower heads. Unlike the small rosette Eriocaulon most aquarists know, this is one of the largest in the hobby, with grass-like leaves only about 2 mm wide but up to 60 cm long.

Did you know

Most Eriocaulon in the hobby are palm-sized showpieces for the foreground. This one grows leaves over half a meter long, and shops regularly mislist it as a compact carpet plant.

Related plants

• 

  Eriocaulon setaceum

  Freshwater

  High lightMidground11.8 in (30 cm)

• 

  Eriocaulon Vietnam

  Eriocaulon sp. 'Vietnam'

  Freshwater

  High lightMidground4.7 in (12 cm)

• 

  Eriocaulon buergerianum

  Freshwater

  High lightForeground3.1 in (8 cm)

• 

  Eriocaulon cinereum

  Freshwater

  High lightForeground3.1 in (8 cm)

• 

  Eriocaulon quinquangulare

  Freshwater

  High lightMidground3.1 in (8 cm)
• Eriocaulon Sulawesi

  Eriocaulon sp. 'Sulawesi'

  Freshwater

  High lightForeground1.2 in (3 cm)