Hygrophila polysperma

Hygrophila polysperma, commonly known as dwarf hygrophila, dwarf hygro, Miramar weed, Indian swampweed or Indian waterweed, is an aquatic plant in the family Acanthaceae. It is native to Bangladesh, India, China and Malaysia, and has also been introduced to the US states of Florida, Texas and possibly Virginia.[1] It is listed on the Federal Noxious Weed List in the US and is illegal to import and sell in a number of states including Kansas[2] and South Carolina.[3]

Hygrophila polysperma
Hygrophila polysperma in an aquarium
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Acanthaceae
Genus: Hygrophila
Species:
H. polysperma
Binomial name
Hygrophila polysperma
Anderson
Synonyms
  • Justicia polysperma
  • Hemidelphis polysperma

Cultivation and uses

Indian waterweed first appeared in the aquarium trade in 1945 under the name "oriental ludwigia".[1] It is easy to grow and as such a very popular plant for the tropical aquarium. It will grow even faster in good light, a nutrient rich water / substrate and it benefits from additional CO2. May need to be pruned regularly. Propagated from cuttings. An isolated leaf will often root itself.

Hygrophila polysperma is readily available in the aquarium trade thanks to its ease of growth and reproduction. It will accept most water parameters. When used in aquascaping it is often placed towards the back of the aquarium, as a large group of stems. Some people prefer not to introduce Hygrophila polysperma into their tanks as it can rapidly grow out of control, taking light and nutrients away from more other plants. The leaves turn a shade of pink or orange as they grow closer to the light source. Many people find that this plant produces too many new shoots and eventually becomes a nuisance. It is a good plant for quickly filling a planted aquarium, using its new shoots to propagate new plants in a matter of days.[4]

In India, its seeds are said to be used as a medication.

References
  1. Langeland, K.A.; Burks, K. Craddock (1998), Identification and Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas (PDF), Gainesville, Florida: University of Florida, archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-05-14
  2. Polanski, Adrian J. (2004), Federal Noxious Weed Quarantine (PDF), Kansas Department of Agriculture, archived from the original (PDF) on October 23, 2007
  3. Aquatic Nuisance Species Program: Illegal Aquatic Plants (PDF), South Carolina Department of Resources
  4. Growing Hygrophila polysperma in the Aquarium http://hygrophila-polysperma.com/hygrophila%20polysperma%20aquarium.html Archived 2013-09-21 at the Wayback Machine

Further reading
  • Angerstein MB, Lemke DE. 1994. First records of the aquatic weed Hygrophila polysperma (Acanthaceae) from Texas. Sida 16:365-71
  • Innes WT. 1947. Hygrophila, a new aquarium plant. The Aquarium 16:30-1
  • Les DH, Wunderlin RP. 1981. Hygrophila polysperma (Acanthacae). Florida Scientist 44:189-92
  • Schmitz DC. 1985. Hygrophila polysperma, A review of the scientific literature. Tech. report. Tallahassee: Fla. Dept. of Natural Resources. 15 pp.
  • Vandiver VV. 1980. Hygrophila. Aquatics 2:4-11
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