Glossostigma elatinoides

Glossostigma Elatinoides Sheet

• Difficulty: Average
• Family: Phrymaceae
• Gender: Glossostigma
• From: Australia and New Zealand
• Lighting design: High
• Temperature: 4º - 30º
• Growth: Quick
• PH: 4.0 to 7.0
• Hardness: 0 to 30
• Co2: Recommended

Characteristics of Glossostigma Elatinoides

Glossostigma Elatinoides is a fast-growing, low-growing aquarium groundcover plant with creeping stolons and spatula-shaped leaves that grows even fully submerged in swamps and floodplains, as well as on riverbanks and lakeshores in its native habitats. in Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand. This plant was unveiled in 1980. It was imported to Japan and the first natural style aquarium designs with Glossostigma upholstery were created. Until now, Glossostigma Elatinoides has become one of the most popular foreground plants all over the world.

It is possible to confuse Glossostigma Elatinoides with small submerged plants of the Marsilea type. However, the corridors of Glossstigma have opposite leaves (2 leaves per knot), those of Marsilea are alternate (1 leaf per knot). Additionally, Glossostigma leaves have a distinct midrib, while Marsilea veins are fan-shaped, comparable to the leaves of a Ginkgo tree.
There is another species of Glosso, closely related to G. elatinoides, Glossostigma Diandrum. Its flowers have two petals, those of G. Elatinoides have four.

G. elatinoides is relatively easy to maintain if it has enough light and CO2. With enough light, Glosso spreads quickly, covering the entire floor after a short time. Under insufficient light, however, it takes a long time to grow. For good growth you need enough nitrate, phosphate and enough iron, as well as micronutrients. Nitrate deficiency leads to yellowing leaves, with older leaves shed prematurely, phosphate deficiency results in significant growth reduction and the plant takes on a distinctive dark green hue. Iron deficiency leads to transparent spots on the leaves.

When planting, make clumps of three to four stems and wait for it to acclimatise under water, it establishes in about two weeks. You can then cut off the new leaves and replant them in the substrate. Be sure to bury them in the ground completely, and just free the tips of the stems. If you follow this method, and there is enough light, CO2 and nutrients, you will have a complete soil cover in a few weeks.

Its low height makes G. Elatinoides an ideal close-up plant. It forms dense plant mats, which are especially attractive in natural aquariums.