TankBud

Mauritius micro sword

Lilaeopsis mauritiana

Also known as Micro sword narrow leaf, Narrow leaf micro sword, Lilaeopsis sp. Mauritius, Mauritius microsword

FreshwaterCarpetingRunnersSide shoots

Mauritius micro sword (Lilaeopsis mauritiana)
Aquarium Plants Factory · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Light
Medium light
CO2
CO₂ beneficial
Temperature
68–86°F
20–30°C
Max height
2.8 in
7 cm
Growth rate
Slow
Placement
Foreground
Type
Carpeting
pH
6.0–7.5
Hardness
0–30 dGH
Spread
3.9 in (10 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root + water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Medium
Family
Apiaceae
Origin
Mauritius (Indian Ocean)

Overview

Mauritius micro sword is a grass-like carpet plant for the foreground of the tank. It is a slow grower of medium difficulty.

Did you know

Mauritius micro sword was first collected for the aquarium trade around 1992. Petersen and Affolter described it as a new species only in 1999. For roughly seven years, hobbyists kept a plant that had no scientific name yet.

Caring for Mauritius micro sword

Split Mauritius micro sword into small clumps and push each one into the substrate with tweezers, a couple of centimeters apart. The runners knit the clumps together into a dense, low lawn.

It does fine in medium light without CO2, but CO2 injection makes it carpet much faster and tighter. It feeds through both its roots and its leaves, so pair a nutrient-rich substrate or root tabs with a liquid fertilizer. It handles 68 to 86°F (20 to 30°C).

Growth is slow, and the lawn stays only a few centimeters tall. Thin it if it starts to stack up. New plants form along the runners and as side shoots, and each can be cut free once it has roots.

Good to know

Mauritius micro sword belongs to the carrot family, Apiaceae, so it is a true flowering plant rather than a grass. It is the narrowest-leaved of the cultivated Lilaeopsis species. Its fine blades have a rounded cross section. They are reduced phyllodes rather than true leaves, with faint internal cross-partitions typical of the genus.

In the wild

Mauritius micro sword is endemic to the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. It grows in wet ground and along shallow water margins. In the wild and when grown emersed, it stays low and creeps across damp substrate.

Common questions

Does Mauritius micro sword 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 Mauritius micro sword need CO2?

No, but it helps. Mauritius micro sword can grow without injected CO2, and added CO2 makes it grow faster.

How much light does Mauritius micro sword need?

Mauritius micro sword wants medium light. A light sold for planted tanks covers it.

Does Mauritius micro sword need root tabs?

They help. Mauritius micro sword takes nutrients through both its roots and its leaves. Root tabs near its roots and a liquid fertilizer cover both.

How do you propagate Mauritius micro sword?

Mauritius micro sword propagates by runners and side shoots. New plants grow along its runners. Cut one free once it has roots and plant it. Cut a side shoot off once it has a few leaves and plant it on its own.

How tall does Mauritius micro sword grow?

Mauritius micro sword grows to about 2.8 in (7 cm) tall. It grows slowly and rarely needs trimming.

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