Blyxa

Blyxa aubertii

General information: It is an annual plant common in creeks, rivers and billabongs. Common in most NT places where aquatic plants are growing well. It looks like vallisneria at first glance but can be distinguished by a central vein in the leaf. It is also different in that all the leaves radiate out from a central point at the base of the plant. If growing in the same place as Val it is generally distinguished by a lighter green colour.

Cultivation notes : Easy to cultivate with bright light and CO2 fertilisation. It is an annual plant that is grown from seed each year. In the aquarium if you take away the changing day lengths and seasonal differences it can be grown for longer than one season.

Distribution : Common in short coastal rivers northern NT. Found in Madagascar, Asia, through New Guinea to NT, WA, and Qld in North Australia. It is found to down to 18deg South in the NT.

Selling details : Sold as individual plants with roots washed free of substrate.

Reference: Cowie, Short & Osterkamp Madsen ( 2000 ) "Floodplain Flora, a flora of the floodplain of the Northern Territory, Australia"]