TankBud

Vesuvius sword

Helanthium bolivianum 'Vesuvius'

Also known as Echinodorus 'Vesuvius', Echinodorus angustifolius 'Vesuvius', Corkscrew sword, Twisted chain sword, Echinodorus sp. tortifolia

FreshwaterRosetteRunnersPlantlets

Vesuvius sword (Helanthium bolivianum 'Vesuvius')
Aquarium Plants Factory · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Light
Medium light
CO2
CO₂ beneficial
Temperature
72–82°F
22–28°C
Max height
11.8 in
30 cm
Growth rate
Fast
Placement
Midground
Type
Rosette
pH
5.5–7.5
Hardness
2–18 dGH
Spread
5.9 in (15 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root + water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Easy
Family
Alismataceae
Origin
Cultivar (from South American Helanthium bolivianum)

Overview

Vesuvius sword is an easy chain sword whose narrow leaves curl like corkscrews. It suits the midground, or an accent spot in a nano scape.

Did you know

Vesuvius sword is named for its volcano-like look. Its leaves erupt from a central rosette and spiral upward like a curl of smoke, the effect the nursery was selecting for.

Caring for Vesuvius sword

Root the Vesuvius sword rosette in a fine substrate, burying the roots and leaving the crown just above the surface. Place it where the curling leaves can be seen.

It tolerates medium light and grows at 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C). It does not strictly need CO2 as long as the pH stays below about 7.5, though CO2 gives fuller, faster growth. Like other swords it is a heavy root feeder, so use root tabs or aquasoil. A liquid fertilizer covers what it takes in through its leaves.

A healthy plant grows fast and pumps out runners with new plants. Trim them off and replant them to keep it tidy, and cut small plantlets free once they have a few roots.

Good to know

Vesuvius sword has tightly twisted leaves about 4 mm wide, a stable mutation that breeds true through runners. Being a clonal cultivar, every Vesuvius in the trade is genetically the same selected plant. It is sold under several names because the genus was reclassified. Echinodorus 'Vesuvius', Echinodorus bolivianus 'Vesuvius' and the informal sp. tortifolia all refer to the same plant, now placed in Helanthium in the family Alismataceae.

In the wild

Vesuvius sword does not exist in the wild. It is a cultivated mutant selected from the narrow-leaf 'Angustifolius' form of Helanthium bolivianum, first propagated commercially at a nursery in Singapore. The parent species grows in shallow, seasonally flooded South American waters and spreads by runners, a habit Vesuvius keeps.

Common questions

Does Vesuvius 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 Vesuvius sword need CO2?

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

How much light does Vesuvius sword need?

Vesuvius sword wants medium light. A light sold for planted tanks covers it.

Does Vesuvius sword need root tabs?

They help. Vesuvius 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 Vesuvius sword?

Vesuvius sword propagates by runners and plantlets. New plants grow along its runners. Cut one free once it has roots and plant it. Small plantlets form on the plant and can be detached once they have a few roots.

How tall does Vesuvius sword grow?

Vesuvius sword grows to about 11.8 in (30 cm) tall. It grows fast, so expect to trim it often.

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