TankBud

Narrow leaf chain sword

Helanthium bolivianum 'Angustifolius'

Also known as Echinodorus angustifolius, Echinodorus bolivianus 'Angustifolius', Grass chain sword

FreshwaterRosetteRunners

Narrow leaf chain sword (Helanthium bolivianum 'Angustifolius')
Aquarium Plants Factory · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Light
Medium light
CO2
CO₂ beneficial
Temperature
68–82°F
20–28°C
Max height
23.6 in
60 cm
Growth rate
Fast
Placement
Background
Type
Rosette
pH
5.0–7.5
Hardness
1–14 dGH
Spread
5.9 in (15 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root + water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Easy
Family
Alismataceae
Origin
South America (probably Mato Grosso, Brazil)

Overview

Narrow leaf chain sword is a grassy, Vallisneria-style plant for the background and the sides of a tank. It is an easy, undemanding plant.

Did you know

Narrow leaf chain sword is a genetic triplicate. Scientists counted its chromosomes and found it is a triploid form of Helanthium bolivianum. That is part of why it spreads so freely by runners but rarely sets viable seed in the tank.

Caring for narrow leaf chain sword

Bury the roots of narrow leaf chain sword and leave the crown just above the substrate. In tall tanks the long leaves stand upright, while in shallow tanks they lie in floating swathes near the surface.

Strong light and CO2 speed it up but are not required, so medium light in a low-tech tank suits it well. It needs enough trace elements, especially iron, or the leaves go pale. A substrate fertilizer such as root tabs, or a well-dosed water column, fixes this. Keep it at 68 to 82°F (20 to 28°C), and expect shorter leaves under stronger light.

It grows fast and spreads on its own by runners, so young plants can appear almost overnight. Cut a young plant free once it has roots and replant it wherever you want more.

Good to know

Narrow leaf chain sword is better known by its old name, Echinodorus angustifolius. It now sits in the genus Helanthium in the family Alismataceae. Its band-like submersed leaves are only about 3 to 4 mm wide but can exceed 50 to 60 cm long.

In the wild

Narrow leaf chain sword is a South American plant, probably from the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso. It grows in marshy shallows and along river margins, spreading across open ground by runners into loose colonies. In shallow water it grows emersed as a marsh plant, and it adapts readily to full submersion.

Common questions

Does narrow leaf chain sword need to be planted in the substrate?

Yes. Bury the roots and leave the crown, where the leaves join, just above the substrate.

Does narrow leaf chain sword need CO2?

No, but it helps. Narrow leaf chain sword can grow without injected CO2, and added CO2 makes it grow faster.

How much light does narrow leaf chain sword need?

Narrow leaf chain sword wants medium light. A light sold for planted tanks covers it.

Does narrow leaf chain sword need root tabs?

They help. Narrow leaf chain 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 narrow leaf chain sword?

Narrow leaf chain sword propagates by runners. New plants grow along its runners. Cut one free once it has roots and plant it.

How tall does narrow leaf chain sword grow?

Narrow leaf chain sword grows to about 23.6 in (60 cm) tall. It grows fast, so expect to trim it often.

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