TankBud

Myriophyllum Guyana

Myriophyllum mattogrossense

Also known as Myriophyllum sp. 'Guyana', Mattogrosso milfoil, Green milfoil, Red foxtail

FreshwaterStemCuttingsSide shoots

Myriophyllum Guyana (Myriophyllum mattogrossense)
TsunamiCarlos · Public domain

Care at a glance

Light
Medium light
CO2
CO₂ beneficial
Temperature
68–82°F
20–28°C
Max height
19.7 in
50 cm
Growth rate
Fast
Placement
Background
Type
Stem
pH
6.0–7.5
Hardness
2–12 dGH
Spread
2.4 in (6 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root + water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Easy
Family
Haloragaceae
Origin
South America (Mato Grosso region of Brazil)

Overview

A bright green, feathery background stem that is genuinely easy and grows fast even in lower-tech tanks, though medium to high light keeps it dense and CO2 plus dosing make it lusher. Plant in groups and it quickly forms a soft, bushy backdrop; left alone it will reach the surface, so trim and replant the tops. The fine leaves are a magnet for algae if light and nutrients are out of balance, so keep parameters steady and flow decent. An iron-rich substrate or root tabs plus water-column ferts suit it well.

In the wild

Myriophyllum mattogrossense comes from South America and is named for the Mato Grosso region of Brazil, growing in shallow slow water where it forms soft, feathery underwater foliage. It is one of the more forgiving milfoils, switching between an emersed and a fully submersed form and reaching the surface quickly in good conditions. In the hobby it is widely sold under the trade name Myriophyllum 'Guyana'.

Good to know

It belongs to Haloragaceae, the watermilfoil family. The genus Myriophyllum gets its name from the Greek for countless leaves, a nod to the finely divided whorled foliage that gives milfoils their feathery look. The aquarium-trade name Myriophyllum 'Guyana' is generally applied to this same species rather than a botanically distinct plant.

Did you know

Did you know its feathery leaves make it a favourite spawning mop in the wild and in breeding tanks. The dense whorls of fine foliage trap eggs and give fry somewhere to hide, which is partly why milfoils are such popular plants for fish breeders.

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