Aciotis acuminifolia
The Aciotis acuminifolia has about 14 species. It belongs to the large family Melastomataceae (Melastomaceae), which consists mainly of tropical shrubs and small trees, among which there are beautiful flowering plants such as Medinilla and Tibouchina. Among the herbaceous representatives are aquatic and marsh plants, mainly of the genus Acisanthera. Acisanthera acuminifolia is the first aquarium plant of this family. It was first imported into the USA in 2005. In the USA it is more or less a well-known plant, while in Europe few people know about it.
Aciotis acuminifolia was first discovered in Rio San Francisco, eastern Brazil, although there are no reliable data on the exact location. At first it was thought to be a species of Acisanthera, but in 2009 DNA analysis was carried out, which, among other things, led to the identification of species of the genus Aciotis - hence the name Aciotis sp. In May 2011 (May 2011) the plant was identified as Aciotis acuminifolia.
Aciotis acuminifolia grows strictly upright and has tetrahedral stems with transversely opposite leaves with parallel veins. When submerged, the leaves are green, yellow or reddish in colour with a red underside. Higher light intensifies the reddish colour. The border of the younger leaves curves slightly upwards, but this curvature decreases as the leaves age.
Acytis acuminifolia grows rapidly and, having reached the water surface, begins to grow in a moist airy environment. In general, it is not difficult to grow the plant in this environment, provided the humidity is high. The shoots that grow in an airy environment are almost indistinguishable from those that grow under water. The main difference of such leaves is that their edge has more distinct serrations, and the leaf plate itself, in bright light, has a more intense red colour.
Under suitable conditions, it will flower with a small number of large, approximately 7-8 mm, pale pink four-petalled flowers, which on maturity form into small green round-shaped fruits full of slender reddish seeds.
When growing in an aquarium, Atsiotis acuminifolia needs soft water and sufficient nutrients. Water parameters: temperature 18-30° C, hardness dH 0-7°, acidity pH 5,5-7,0. CO2 supplementation with a concentration of 40 mg/l is required.
The substrate does not play a major role in the development of the plant, so it can be anything.
A bright light intensity of 0.6 W/l is required. Daily light duration of approximately 12 hours.
If the plant is not maintained in the correct conditions, the leaves will get noticeably thinner and may even curl. A lack of light or a shady location will result in a stunted or even halted growth, the plant will drop its leaves and, if the light problem is not solved in time, it will die.
Reproduction
Under suitable conditions it will have a moderate growth rate and will produce a number of lateral shoots which can be cut and replanted. As with other stem plants, cutting off the top part of the stem will result in stronger development of side shoots on the remaining part.
