Mexican Oaks

[sjdriscoll]

Hi all,

I've been pruning my Mexican Oakleafs about every 3 weeks and replanting the stems> I've noticed that the leaf shape has been lost and they don't look like oak leaves any more, just like hydrophilla leaves in fact.

Is this because of the constant pruning or as a consequence of some other factor?

Any ideas are very welcome.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Themuleous]

If the plant is new to the tank then it is likely that the leaves it had originally were the emersed (out of water) leaf form. The new ones its producing are the submerged leaf form. Most plants are grow commercially with their leaves out of the water, but the leaf form is often different as a result. When underwater the plant had to produce new, underwater leaves. A common one for this are the Ech species, with have leafs with a long stem and a round leaf shape. Underwater the leaves have almost no stem and are an elongated oval shape.

That or it could just be hydrophila!

Sam

 

[sjdriscoll]

Cheers Sam, that sounds like it could be it.

Such a pity as the oak leaf shape is really the only reason I bought them in the first place!

You live and learn.

Thanks again.

Steve

 

[Themuleous]

No probs, Steve, thats what we're all here for

Sam