Plant Id?

[razer121]

ok ive got my betta in this 25L tank next to my main tank, i have this plant in the main tank...

now, i was going to move the one in the background to the betta tank....there was just one problem....

now if you look carfully you can see there is in fact 6 plants!! bit confusing considering i only planted 1 of these here....so the first one started in the very corner but yet the plant has used its "roots" to expand and then grow new plants ? so this one plant is now attached to anouther 5?!?! is this normal? would it be safe if i cut of the roots connecting them??

thanks!

 

[Fats]

Hi,i think its called Vallisneria Spiralis and yes it is normal for it to send out runners which produce a new plant. Hope this helps you out.

Ian

 

[Mr Bliss]

It's Vallisneria spiralis. The fact that it's spreading suggests that it's doing well in your tank.

You can cut the runners that connect the plants. It'll just make the small ones grow a bit slower, as they get some nutrition from their "mother plant".

 

[BigIan]

Alot of plants reproduce in this way, you can simply cut off one of the babys and plant it in your betta tank, and leave the mother plant there as it is doing quite well...

 

[Jallen]

THIS IS NOT VALLISNERIA SPIRALIS.

Guys, please learn about the plants before you attempt an Id.
This is Vallisneria tortifolia. The spiralis in the name vallisneria spiralis is latin, and trying to turn it into english thinking it sounds like spiral is a silly idea.

You can cut the cords which connect them (known as runners) and it won't kill either plant. That way you can reposition them individually or dispose of excessive ones.
And don't act so surprised that it's reporucing you wouldn't be surprised if grass did the same

Oh, and you planted it perfectly keeping the crown above the surface of the sand and burying the roots.

 

[Mr Bliss]

Actually the latin word "spiralis" does have the same meaning as the English world "spiral". It refers to the shape of the flower stalk of these plants.

I'm under the impression that Vallisneria spiralis and Vallisneria tortifolia are the same species; the latter is just the corkscrew-leaved variant. You often see it called Vallisneria spiralis f tortifolia, or Vallisneria spiralis "Tortifolia". Then again, I'm no taxonomist and could be wrong.

 

[MBOU]

I order in the plants for work, that plant in the photo would be imported under the name of 'Vallisneria Torta', the 'Vallisneria Spirallis' is taller, faster growing and straight leaved (and by taller i just mean how it tends to arrive in the shop, not that it grows taller..)

 

[Jallen]

Vallisneria tortifolia is not the same species as vallisneria spiralis.

As well as having twisting leaves it's also much shorter and bushier.
Spiralis does mean spiral or coil in latin, but my point was to not to try and guess what a plant was by its latin name as there isn't a way to tell what it refers to.

In fact as far as I know there is both vallisneria tortifolia and vallisneria americana twisted variety.

 

[Mr Bliss]

OK, thanks for clearing that up Jallen.

 

[razer121]

huh wow ive never seen any plant reproduce this way....its odd that my other 2 in the tank are not doing this same?? thanks for all the info though guys!! although i do think im going to let it grow in the main tank where it is but i will have to take a few for the betta tank!