Red NT Lace plant
Aponogeton euryspermus
General information: The form cultivated has deep red leaves that grow submerse until there is a shortage in CO2 or some other stressor then the plant sends up floating leaves that are dark green oval shaped but red underneath. The flowers are yellow and it develops many small round red seeds.
Cultivation notes : This plant has been a little difficult to cultivate in the past , but with recent advances in pH control with CO2 and nutrient management it is now less difficult. It comes from places with very soft water in sandstone escarpment areas and seems to do best when the hardness is low with a neutral pH, a temperature over 27 deg C. the leaves seem to develop faster and longer when in a current.
Distribution : Found in the Kimberley region of WA as well as Kakadu National Park and Arnhem Land.
Selling details : Sold as individual plants washed free of substrate material.
Reference: Helquist & Jacobs (1998) “Aponogetonaceae of Austalia, with descriptions of six new taxa. Telopea 8: 7-19 Cowie, Short & Osterkamp Madsen ( 2000 ) “Floodplain Flora, a flora of the floodplain of the Northern Territory, Australia”