Ludwigia Meta

Ludwigia inclinata var. verticillata 'Meta'

Also known as Ludwigia inclinata 'Meta', Ludwigia inclinata var. verticillata Meta

FreshwaterStemCuttingsSide shoots

Care at a glance

Light: High light
CO2: CO₂ required
Growth rate: Fast
Placement: Background
Type: Stem
Temperature: 72–82°F (22–28°C)
pH: 5.0–7.0
Hardness: 0–8 dGH
Max height: 15.7 in (40 cm)
Spread: 3.1 in (8 cm)
Nutrient uptake: Root + water column
Growth region: Submersed or emersed
Difficulty: Difficult
Origin: Departamento del Meta, central Colombia
Family: Onagraceae

Overview

More forgiving than the Pantanal form, but forgiving is relative: it still wants strong light, injected CO2, soft water below about 4 dKH and steady macro and micro dosing to hold its orange-red color and fine whorls. Shortfalls show quickly as pale, shrunken growing tips. It grows fast when supported and branches little, so build density by replanting tops. Place it beside light green plants, where the orange whorls read as a strong accent.

In the wild

A locality form of Ludwigia inclinata var. verticillata collected in the Departamento del Meta in central Colombia, the llanos region drained by the Rio Meta. Like the related Cuba and Pantanal forms it grows in shallow, soft, acidic tropical water, submersed with fine whorled leaves and emersed on wet mud, where it flowers.

Good to know

A member of the Onagraceae, the evening primrose family. The varietal name verticillata refers to the whorled leaf arrangement, and Meta shows it clearly: narrow leaves about 5 cm long and 2 mm wide, usually eleven to a whorl. Emersed growth switches to alternate elliptical leaves on reddish stems with quite large yellow flowers. It is a named locality form, not a separate species, sitting alongside the 'Cuba' and 'Pantanal' forms.

Did you know

Aquascapers who admire Ludwigia Pantanal but have lost it more than once usually end up here. Meta gives nearly the same fine orange whorls with a noticeably wider margin for error.