Rotala Bossii

Care at a glance

Overview

A fast background stem grown for a bushy green backdrop. It wants high light to stay dense and low, and at that intensity CO2 and regular fertilization keep growth ahead of algae; iron dosing is what coaxes out the subtle pink tips. The leaves are fragile and the plant resents sudden parameter swings, which end in melt or stem rot, so acclimate it gently and keep the tank stable. Top the stems and replant the cuttings, since trimming also drives the lateral branching that builds the bush.

In the wild

Bossii is an undescribed Rotala circulating from India, where vendors report it growing in dimly lit fresh water. It has no formal botanical description, so the sp. designation is deliberate. Trade stock is farm-raised and may arrive in emersed or submersed form.

Good to know

A member of the family Lythraceae, the loosestrifes. It carries a collector's trade name rather than a published species epithet, and no authority has formally placed it. In leaf shape it resembles Rotala rotundifolia, but it holds bright green where most of its relatives flush red, showing at most pink to orange tips under strong light with iron dosing.

Did you know

It is a Rotala bought for refusing to turn red: in a genus hobbyists chase for crimson tops, Bossii stays green even under strong light, which makes it the contrast plant to park beside a red stand.

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