Staurogyne Porto Velho
Staurogyne sp. 'Porto Velho'
Also known as Staurogyne Porto Velho, Staurogyne sp. Manaus, Hygrophila sp. Roraima, Porto Velho staurogyne
Care at a glance
- Light
- High light
- CO2
- CO₂ beneficial
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Placement
- Foreground
- Type
- Carpeting
- Temperature
- 68–82°F (20–28°C)
- pH
- 5.0–7.5
- Hardness
- 0–30 dGH
- Max height
- 3.1 in (8 cm)
- Spread
- 3.9 in (10 cm)
- Nutrient uptake
- Root + water column
- Growth region
- Submersed or emersed
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Origin
- Brazil (Rondonia and Roraima)
- Family
- Acanthaceae
Overview
A small creeping stem plant grown as a dense low foreground carpet rather than an upright stem. It is more demanding than Staurogyne repens, wanting bright light, CO2 and a rich substrate to stay compact and to draw out the purplish coloration; without CO2 it tends to grow more vertically and growth is on the slow side. Trim across the top and replant the head cuttings and side shoots to thicken the carpet.
In the wild
Comes from the western Brazilian states of Rondonia and Roraima, near Porto Velho (the capital of Rondonia) after which the trade name is taken. It grows along shaded stream and river margins in the Amazon basin. It has a low creeping habit and hugs the substrate like ivy.
Good to know
An undescribed species in the family Acanthaceae, so it is a close relative of Staurogyne repens and, more distantly, of Hygrophila; it was at first thought to be a Hygrophila and material traded as Hygrophila sp. 'Roraima' appears to be the same plant. It has narrow lanceolate leaves in a grayish to olive green with purplish undertones, and the stems can flush reddish-purple under strong light. Because it has never been formally described it is still traded only under the informal 'Porto Velho' label.
Did you know
Did you know that despite being one of the most popular new foreground plants in the United States and Japan, this species is still botanically unnamed and is almost never grown in Europe.
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
- Glass Aqua Aquascaping plants and planted tank supplies
- Buce Plant Aquatic plants and aquascaping supplies
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Growing Staurogyne Porto Velho?
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