Plant ID needed

Hey guys, can anyone identify this plant? I found it in abundance at a local dam (Spioenkop Dam).I like the look of it in my tanks and the fish enjoy it as a 'salad on the side' too. Would like to research a little further so any help would prove handy. Shot a lot!

 

can you take a picture of the leaves and stem on a peace of paper out of the tank?

 

Sorry poor quality. f-fish maybe this is clearer

 

It looks like Ludwigia Repens, does it have a bit of red tint under the leaves?

 

Thanks squatty, no red tint though. The underside of the leaves are simply a paler version of the green on top. Removed the roots and it does just fine even when floating on the surface.

 

It looks like Ludwigia .........:tongue:

 

can also be a local species

 

No its Ludwigia, another species that has become invasive...... see how easily such plants can get out of hand, how do they get there? Aquarists of course, who else? And where do invasive plants come from? Unscrupulous dealers! So I urge aquarists to act responsibly or else all of these species will end up on the "Banned from imports" list.

Dirk

 

Nice pic ...

from Wikipedia Wikimedia Error

100% Dirk, I wonder do we have a cool online db like http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=LUDWI that shows invasive / natural occurrence of plants?

What is the process should one find a water body that has an invader, do you report it to the authorities. If you do to who?

Later Ferdie

 

Hi Ferdie,

One can report invasive aquatic plants to the local nature conservation offices. This is obviously a mixed bag but one must try to find the person responsible and perhaps even show them. They can then relay the information to the provincial authorities and these differ in each province. KZN and the Western Cape both have invasive species units and they would then look into the matter.

With regard to species distributions the SA National Biodiversity Institute is actually responsible for assembling the distributions of such plants. If you in the north of the country, you should contact the National Herbarium in Pretoria, again it is difficult to find the relevant party.

Kind regards,

Dirk

 

ive found brazilian pennywort in boskop dam also @ Dirk

 

@Dirk

 

Thanks guys for the ID and the interesting information. Dirk am I in the wrong for using this plant if it is invasive?

How was your stay in the Drakensberg?

 

Hi Ryno,

You must be very careful about the pennywort. We have an indigenous pennywort that looks very similar. What happens is that the indigenous plant is actually a bog plant growing on the border of rivers, dams and pans, but if the levels go up then the plant is all of a sudden under water and then it looks like the aquarium plant. So the plant has to be reliably identified before we can say that this one is invasive.

TwistedC, you can use the plant if it is invasive so don't worry about this, you are after all taking the invasive plant out of the river or dam and this is good.

Kind regards,

Dirk

 

Oh and Twisted,

My stay in the Drakensberg was very nice, only too short and I had to spend too long in lectures, but I did manage to take a nice hike for a few hours.

One more question, was the plant you collected perhaps flowering? Why I ask is because one could make a better id if one did see the flowers. I have actually seen that plant flowering in a pond in Madagascar where I did not expect it at all, but it just goes to show where crazy people release plants into the environment.

Kind regards,

Dirk

 

Okay just checking. It may have been flowering, not sure but I will be fetching more this week so I will have a good look and take a few snaps.

Thats great Dirk, there is nothing like a hike in the mountains to clear the head!

Keep well.

T~C

 

learned something new today

 

T~C,

The flowers are yellow, about 2 cm across with five petals.

Ryno,

Just for the record, Brazilian pennywort, aka Hydocotyle bonariensis is now on the list of plants that may not be imported into SA any more.

Kind regards,

Dirk

 

thanx for the info @Dirk. i will take a photo next time when im there. they grow all along the banks yes. theres loads of it. personally think most pennywort is a threat.