Crinum natans

Description

A relatively hardy plant as long as it is provided with enough light. It is not usually eaten by herbivorous fish and can tolerate low end brackish conditions. Plants that are thriving form a number of small bulbs. When planting this plant, the bulb must not be fully buried, the majority of it should remain above the substrate.A striking graceful plant which grows from a bulb. The leaves are dark green, tough and with ruffled edges

Crinum natans is one of the few species that can be considered aquatic. Originally from West Africa, this plant recalls, at first sight, a cryptocoryne, but differs from it by the presence of an important bulb from which large white roots begin. The rosette leaves can reach 1 m long by 3 cm wide and float on the surface like a vallisnérie especially when the bins are insufficiently deep. The curl that characterizes the leaves is variable. A solitary plant, slowly growing when immersed (not burying the bulb over more than one third of the height), it can nevertheless flower in aquariums (W.A. Tomey, Aquarama 1975 n ° 32). Low in water quality (however, it supports brackish water), it requires relatively high temperature (25-30 ° C), nutrient-rich clay soil and powerful lighting . Phytophagous fish do not touch its leaves