11 replies to this topic

[strat guy]

It warmed up around here so I went for a walk looking for minnows but found these plants instead. They were growing completely submerged in about 4" of water alongside some bullrush. Anyone know what they are? I pulled some out and stuck it in my aquarium to see what it'll do.

 

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[Matt DeLaVega]

A mustard? Bararea vulgaris maybe? It comes up really early, and maybe just happens to be submerged.

 

Even if that is not it, I don't think it is aquatic.

 

[Mrfipp]

It does not look like a native emergent or submersed plant I'm familiar with, but that's probably just because of locality. What state are you in? (Nevermind, IL. Mobile version doesn't show that)
It's also possible it's a terrestrial plant normal to a shoreline. In both the emergent and terrestrial cases it may not do very well submerged in an aquarium. Won't hurt to try it out though.

[swampfish]

According to the Aquatic Plants of Illinois by G.S. Winterringer and A.C. Lopinot, it looks like watercress, which is a mustard. If so, it should do well in the aquarium with strong light and colder water. It is typically found in Illinois in outflows from springs where the water stays cold. Matt's ID may be correct as we have had recent flooding from melting snow in Illinois and mustards are difficult to tell apart.

 

Phil Nixon

University of Illinois

[Matt DeLaVega]

Something seems off for watercress, not sure why. If it is, it was hard, who am I kidding, impossible for me to keep alive. Like Phil mentioned it is mostly found in spring heads and requires lots of flow, light and cool temps. When I tried to keep it in a basement tank that was cool with good lighting, it did not hold up, so I assumed the variable I was missing was flow. Now that I think of it though it was a fairly new aquarium, and maybe it lacked fertility. It also grows in some more sluggish waters, but is emergent in that habitat.

[gerald]

.It might also be a Bittercress (Cardamine pensylvanica or similar species) which often grows alongside watercress.

[Matt DeLaVega]

I figured Gerald would have had the definitive answer.

 

 Go with cress and put  it in a tank with minners and bream.

[gerald]

I figured Gerald would have had the definitive answer.

 

That might just possibly be my best guess at a definitive answer ...

but I adamantly and absolutely refuse to be definitive.

[strat guy]

Thanks for the responses. The areas that I saw it in were the exact opposite of what you guys are describing. This was in a shallow pool near a drain, no more than a ditch, with nearly no flow. It was also under a high overhead expressway so the light is blocked. Ive seen lobelia growing in the same area. This was growing right next to bullrushes, so I assume it naturally gets filtered light, and must be in at least shallow water.

[Matt DeLaVega]

I think it is either what I suggested which is wintercress or bittercress as Gerald suggested. Not right for water cress. So it is more than likely terrestrial. It will look nice for a bit at least..

[strat guy]

I just looked up bittercress and winter cress, but couldn't find pictures of their root structure. They both appear to grow from a center apex like a plantain. The stuff I dug up has a definite rhizome with plantlets growing out from several points.

[strat guy]

Pennsylvania Bitter Cress.

 

(From www.illinoiswildflowers.info)

 

Cultivation: The preference is light shade to partial sun, wet to moist conditions, and soil containing loam or sandy loam with decaying organic matter. This plant develops quickly during the spring when the weather is cool and moist.

Range & Habitat: The native Pennsylvania Bitter Cress occurs occasionally in most areas of Illinois; it tends to be less common or absent in the NW corner of the state (see Distribution Map). Habitats include wet to mesic deciduous woodlands (especially floodplain and bottomland woodlands), swamps, shady seeps and springs, the bottom of cliffs, low ground near streams, and areas along woodland paths. Pennsylvania Bitter Cress is occasionally found in slow-moving water of seasonal ditches and shallow streams, where it resembles an emergent-aquatic plant. This plant is found in both higher quality habitats and disturbed areas where there is partial to light shade and the ground is more or less moist. It is sometimes found in sandy areas where decaying organic material is abundant.

 

 

Thanks for the responses! Probably won't survive I assume. I've got a pond I want to stock with submerged plants so I've got plenty more looking around to do.

Edited by strat guy, 18 March 2015 - 07:58 PM.