Can anyone here ID this plant, some type of Ludwigia maybe?

[burr740]

It's a native species I found in a North Alabama creek. Brought some tops home and it's converting well under high light and CO2. Close to a month now since I first planted it. So far no one has been able to identify (on tpt).


The stems were about 12=15" tall, sticking mostly out of the water. Here's some time line pics:


First brought home and planted

4-5 days later, old leaves began to die, new growth emerging

10 days, 2-3 sets of new leaves, slightly different in shape and color

After ~20 days I moved some tops into my 75 gal. This is about a week later. Seems to be a pretty fast grower

Here's a couple stumps in my misc tank, side shoots are beginning to form

Anyone know what it is? Thanks

 

[Solcielo lawrencia]

Ludwigia peploides. What's interesting about this plant is that there are two terrestrial leaf forms: one is obovate, the other lanceolate. It appears that the obovate form develops when creeping across the surface of the water, while the lanceolate (what you have pictured) develops when it grows vertically. Large yellow flowers will develop with either growth form. Terrestrial growth can reach a couple of feet tall with very thick stems. Submerged, orbicular to obovate leaves develop. It has a high light requirement or the lower leaves will drop off. Growth rate is fast and may have a high iron need or chlorosis develops, though this needs to be further tested to be certain. It has a vertical growth habit and it doesn't branch much when trimmed; a cut stem will usually produce only one side shoot. Both of these qualities makes it suitable for dutch planting since minimal replanting is necessary. Color is light green to golden yellow. Propagation is principally from cutting and replanting tops or side shoots.

 

[burr740]

Googling around some, I do believe you are right. Thanks!


You should post in the thread on TPT, Several people are wondering about it. I'll update it in a day or two if you dont.

 

[Solcielo lawrencia]

Submerged growth with obovate leaf form. Note that the leaf arrangement is alternate, one leaf per node.:





Obovate creeping terrestrial leaf form. Note the color of the stems are reddish:





Creeping emergent growth. Notice that the entire margin of the lake is overrun with L. peploides sp. Growth explodes in the spring and summer and dies back during autumn and gone in winter. It's considered a noxious weed in certain parts:





Here it is with lanceolate emergent leaf form in the foreground:

 

[burr740]

Yep, that is exactly it.


It does seem like it's going to be a really fast grower. Gonna try a stem or two in a low tech/low light tank and see what it does.


Pretty cool color and leaf structure. Never seen it before in the hobby, I wonder why?


Was sorta hoping I had discovered a new species. We could call it Ludwigia sp 740!

 

[Solcielo lawrencia]

It's a high light plant, probably similar to Ludwigia glandulosa in light needs, though it doesn't melt easily. There are easier plants like Bacopa's with similar appearance so that may be a reason.