Nesaea triflora

Ammannia capitellata

Also known as Ammannia mauritiana

FreshwaterStemCuttingsSide shoots

Nesaea triflora (Ammannia capitellata) — Buce Plant · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Light: Medium light
CO2: CO₂ beneficial
Temperature: 73–82°F; 23–28°C
Max height: 23.6 in; 60 cm

Growth rate: Medium
Placement: Background
Type: Stem
pH: 6.0–7.5
Hardness: 0–30 dGH
Nutrient uptake: Root + water column
Growth region: Submersed or emersed
Difficulty: Medium
Family: Lythraceae
Origin: Madagascar, Mauritius and neighbouring Indian Ocean islands; also coastal East Africa, southern India and Sri Lanka

Overview

Nesaea triflora is a stem plant for the midground or background, lighter built and easier going than showpieces like Ammannia crassicaulis. It is rated medium difficulty.

Did you know

Nesaea triflora still ships worldwide under a genus name that botany has retired. DNA work showed that Nesaea could not be kept apart from Ammannia, so every species moved into Ammannia.

Caring for Nesaea triflora

Strip the lower leaves and plant the stems in a nutrient-rich substrate in the midground or background. A few stems build into a bush, since the plant branches willingly.

Nesaea triflora wants moderate to strong light, and more light pushes the warm tones. It grows without injected CO2, but added CO2 makes it grow faster. It feeds through roots and leaves, so add root tabs and a liquid fertilizer. Keep it at 73 to 82°F (23 to 28°C).

It grows at a moderate pace. Replant the trimmings to thicken the group. Keep water parameters steady, since sudden swings can melt it like other Lythraceae stems.

Good to know

Nesaea triflora is a member of Lythraceae, the loosestrife family. It passed briefly through the name Ammannia mauritiana before Ammannia capitellata settled as its accepted name. It is finer-textured than its showier relatives, with narrow paired leaves on pale stems. Its light green to yellowish shoots carry a pink to orange marbling.

In the wild

Nesaea triflora is an amphibious marsh plant from Madagascar, Mauritius and neighboring Indian Ocean islands. Further populations live in coastal East Africa, southern India and Sri Lanka. It grows in sunny spots along pools, ditches and slow waters. It stands emersed on wet ground for much of the year and goes under when the water rises.

Common questions

Does Nesaea triflora need to be planted in the substrate?

Yes. Strip the leaves from the lower part of each stem, then push the stems into the substrate one at a time, a little apart.

Does Nesaea triflora need CO2?

No, but it helps. Nesaea triflora can grow without injected CO2, and added CO2 makes it grow faster.

How much light does Nesaea triflora need?

Nesaea triflora wants medium light. A light sold for planted tanks covers it.

Does Nesaea triflora need root tabs?

They help. Nesaea triflora takes nutrients through both its roots and its leaves. Root tabs near its roots and a liquid fertilizer cover both.

How do you propagate Nesaea triflora?

Nesaea triflora propagates by cuttings and side shoots. Cut off the top of a stem and replant it, and the stump left behind grows new shoots. Cut a side shoot off once it has a few leaves and plant it on its own.