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Rotala Wayanad

Rotala rotundifolia 'Wayanad'

One of 9 forms of Rotala rotundifolia · See all forms →

Also known as Rotala sp. 'Wayanad', Rotala rotundifolia Wayanad

FreshwaterStemCuttingsSide shoots

Invasive. The parent species Rotala rotundifolia is regulated as an invasive aquatic plant in California and Louisiana, and this form falls under the same rules. Never release into the wild; dispose of trimmings in the trash.

Forms · Rotala rotundifolia

See all 9 →

Care at a glance

Light
High light
CO2
CO₂ beneficial
Growth rate
Fast
Placement
Background
Type
Stem
Temperature
68–82°F (20–28°C)
pH
6.0–7.5
Hardness
4–15 dGH
Max height
15.7 in (40 cm)
Spread
2 in (5 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root + water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Medium
Origin
Wayanad district, Kerala, India
Family
Lythraceae

Overview

A fast background stem grown in dense groups. It shares the parent species' forgiving nature and will grow in low-tech tanks, but the warm orange tones only develop under strong light, and at that intensity CO2 and steady macro and micro dosing keep growth ahead of algae. Under very strong light it tends to grow horizontally and creep, so trim and replant the tops regularly to hold an upright bush.

In the wild

Found in the Wayanad district of Kerala in southern India, a high-rainfall plateau in the Western Ghats, and generally treated as a local form of Rotala rotundifolia. Like the rest of the species it is a wetland plant of paddies, ditches and stream margins, growing emersed on wet ground for much of the year and submersed when the water rises.

Good to know

A member of the loosestrife family, Lythraceae, and probably a locality form of Rotala rotundifolia rather than a separate species. Submersed foliage is especially fine and narrow for the species, yellow-green in lean conditions and warming to orange, peach and pinkish red under strong light. The name records the district it was collected from, following the hobby's habit of naming rotundifolia forms for their source.

Did you know

Under strong light Wayanad tends to grow sideways rather than straight up, creeping and cascading instead of towering. Aquascapers use that habit deliberately to spill orange growth down over rock work.

Appears in

High-light plants · Background plants · Stem plants · Fast growers

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