Aquatic plants are used to give the freshwater aquarium a natural appearance, oxygenate the water , absorb ammonia , and provide habitat for fish , especially fry (babies) and for invertebrates . Some aquarium fish and invertebrates also eat live plants. Hobbyists use aquatic plants for aquascaping , of several aesthetic styles.
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(May 2021 )
Bolbitis heudelotii , one of hundreds of aquatic plants found in the hobbyMost of these plant species are found either partially or fully submerged in their natural habitat. Although there are a handful of obligate aquatic plants that must be grown entirely underwater, most can grow fully emersed if the soil is moist. Though some are just living at the water margins, still, they can live in the completely submerged habitat.
The taxonomy of most plant genera is not final. Scientific names listed here may, therefore, contradict other sources. Many of these species are dangerous invasives and should be disposed of in a way that guarantees that they will not enter local waters.
Common aquarium plant species :
Aciotis acuminifolia Acmella repens Acorus calamus Acorus gramineus Aldrovanda vesiculosa Alisma canaliculatum Alisma gramineum Alisma lanceolatum Alisma nanum Alisma orientale Alisma plantago-aquatica Alisma subcordatum Alisma triviale Alisma wahlenbergii Alternanthera bettzickiana Alternanthera philoxeroides Alternanthera reineckii Alternanthera sessilis Ammania capitellata Ammannia crassicaulis Ammania gracilis Ammania latifolia Ammannia pedicellata Ammannia praetemissa Ammania senegalensis Anubias afzelii Anubias barteri var. barteri Anubias barteri var. angustifolia Anubias barteri var. caladiifolia Anubias barteri var. glabra Anubias barteri var. nana Anubias gigantea Anubias gilletti Anubias gracilis Anubias hastifolia Anubias heterophylla Anubias pynaertii Aponogeton appendiculatus Aponogeton bernierianus Aponogeton boivinianus Aponogeton capuronii Aponogeton crispus Aponogeton decartyi Aponogeton desertorum Aponogeton dioecus Aponogeton distachyos Aponogeton elongatus Aponogeton fenestralis Aponogeton henkelianus Aponogeton junceus Aponogeton longiplumulosus Aponogeton loriae Aponogeton madagascariensis Aponogeton natans Aponogeton rigidifolius Aponogeton tenuispicatus Aponogeton ulvaceus Aponogeton undulatus Armoracia aquatica Arthraxon hispidus Azolla caroliniana Azolla filiculoïdes Azolla pinnata Bacopa amplexicaulis Bacopa australis Bacopa caroliniana Bacopa crenata Bacopa innominata Bacopa lanigera Bacopa madagascarensis Bacopa monnieri Bacopa myriophylloides Bacopa rotundifolia Bacopa salzmannii Bacopa serpyllifolia Baldellia ranunculoides Barclaya longifolia Barclaya motleyi Berula erecta Blyxa aubertii Blyxa echinosperma Blyxa japonica Blyxa novoguineensis Blyxa octandra Bolbitis heteroclita B. asiatica )Bolbitis heudelotii Bucephalandra gigantea Bucephalandra motleyana Bucephalandra catherineae Cabomba aquatica Cabomba caroliniana Cabomba furcata Cabomba palaeformis Cabomba piauhyensis Caldesia parnassifolia Calla palustris Caltha palustris Callitriche hamulata Callitriche hermaphroditica Callitriche palustris Callitriche stagnalis Callitriche terestris Cardamine lyrata Cardamine rotundifolia Ceratophyllum demersum Ceratophyllum submersum Ceratopteris cornuta Ceratopteris pteridoides Ceratopteris thalictroides Cladophora aegagropila Clinopodium brownei Crassula aquatica Crassula helmsii Crinum calamistratum Crinum natans Crinum purpurascens Crinum thaianum Cryptocoryne affinis Cryptocoryne alba Cryptocoryne albida Cryptocoryne aponogetifolia Cryptocoryne auriculata Cryptocoryne axelrodii Cryptocoryne balansae Cryptocoryne beckettii Cryptocoryne blassii Cryptocoryne bogneri Cryptocoryne bullosa Cryptocoryne ciliata Cryptocoryne cognata Cryptocoryne cordata Cryptocoryne crispatula Cryptocoryne cruddasiana Cryptocoryne dewitii Cryptocoryne diderici Cryptocoryne elliptica Cryptocoryne ferruginea Cryptocoryne fusca Cryptocoryne gasserii Cryptocoryne grabowskii Cryptocoryne gracilis Cryptocoryne griffithii Cryptocoryne hudoroi Cryptocoryne keei Cryptocoryne legroi Cryptocoryne lingua Cryptocoryne longicauda Cryptocoryne lucens Cryptocoryne lutea Cryptocoryne minima Cryptocoryne moehlmannii Cryptocoryne nevillii Cryptocoryne nurii Cryptocoryne pallidinervia Cryptocoryne parva Cryptocoryne petchii Cryptocoryne pontederiifolia Cryptocoryne purpurea Cryptocoryne retrospiralis Cryptocoryne schulzei Cryptocoryne scrurillis Cryptocoryne siamensis Cryptocoryne spiralis Cryptocoryne striolata Cryptocoryne thwaitesii Cryptocoryne tonkinensis Cryptocoryne undulata Cryptocoryne usteriana Cryptocoryne venemae Cryptocoryne versteegii Cryptocoryne walkeri Cryptocoryne wendtii 'Tropica' Cryptocoryne x willisii Cryptocoryne zewaldiae Cryptocoryne zonata Cryptocoryne zukalii Cuphea anagalloidea Cyperus alternifolius Cyperus helferi Cyperus papyrus Damasonium alisma Didiplis diandra Diodia kuntzei Diodia virginiana Echinodorus africanus Echinodorus amazonicus Echinodorus andrieuxii Echinodorus angustifolius Echinodorus argentinensis Echinodorus aschersonianus Echinodorus barthii Echinodorus berteroi Echinodorus bleheri Echinodorus brevipedicellatus Echinodorus cordifolius Echinodorus fluitans Echinodorus grandiflorus Echinodorus horemanii Echinodorus horizontalis Echinodorus humilis Echinodorus latifolius Echinodorus longiscapus Echinodorus macrophyllus Echinodorus martii Echinodorus major Echinodorus opacus Echinodorus osiris Echinodorus 'Ozelot' Echinodorus palaefolius Echinodorus paniculatus Echinodorus parviflorus Echinodorus pelliscidus Echinodorus quadricostatus Echinodorus radicans Echinodorus rigidifolius Echinodorus 'Rubin' Echinodorus rubra Echinodorus schlueteri Echinodorus subalatus Echinodorus tunicatus Echinodorus uruguayensis Egeria densa Egeria najas Egleria fluctuans Eichhornia azurea Eichhornia crassipes Eichhornia diversifolia Elatine gussonei Elatine hydropiper Elatine macropoda Elatine triandra Eleocharis acicularis Eleocharis dulcis Eleocharis minima Eleocharis obtusa Eleocharis parvula Eleocharis vivipara Elodea canadensis Elodea granatensis Elodea nuttallii Elodea occidentalis Equisetum spp.Eriocaulon amanoanum Eriocaulon cinereum Eriocaulon depressum Eriocaulon parkeri Eusteralis stellata Fittonia argyroneura Fontinalis antipyretica Glossadelphus zollingeri Glossostigma diandrum Glossostigma elatinoides Gratiola amphiantha Gratiola brevefolia Gratiola viscidula Gymnocoronis spilanthoides Helanthium bolivianum Helanthium tenellum Helanthium zombiense Hemianthus callitrichoides Hemianthus micranthemoides Heteranthera dubia Heteranthera reniformis Heteranthera zosterifolia Hippuris vulgaris Hottonia inflata Hottonia palustris Hydrilla verticillata Hydrocharis morsus-ranae Hydrocleys martii Hydrocleys nymphoides Hydrocotyle leucocephala Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides Hydrocotyle tripartita Hydrocotyle verticillata Hydrocotyle vulgaris Hydrothrix gardneri Hydrotriche hottoniiflora Hygrophila angustifolia Hygrophila corymbosa 'crispa' Hygrophila corymbosa 'glabra' Hygrophila corymbosa 'gracilis' Hygrophila corymbosa 'siamensis' Hygrophila corymbosa 'strigosa' Hygrophila difformis Hygrophila guianensis Hygrophila lacustris Hygrophila lancea Hygrophila natalis Hygrophila polysperma Hygrophila salicifolia Hygrophila stricta Hygroryza aristata Hyptis lorentziana Iris spp.Isoetes lacustris Isoetes malinverniana Isoetes taiwanensis Isoetes velata Isolepis setracea Jasarum steyermarkii Juncus repens Lagarosiphon cordofanus Lagarosiphon madagascariensis Lagarosiphon major Lagenandra dewitii Lagenandra insignis Lagenandra koenigii Lagenandra lancifolia Lagenandra meeboldii Lagenandra nairii Lagenandra ovata Lagenandra thwaitesii Lemna gibba Lemna minor Lemna paucicostata Lemna perpusilla Lemna trisulca Lilaeopsis brasiliensis Lilaeopsis carolinensis Lilaeopsis macloviana Lilaeopsis mauritiana Lilaeopsis novae-zelandiae Lilaeopsis ruthiana Limnobium laevigatum Limnobium spongia Limnocharis flava Limnophila aquatica Limnophila aromatica Limnophila glabra Limnophila heterophylla Limnophila indica Limnophila sessiliflora Limnophyton fluitans Lindernia crustacea Lindernia dubia Lindernia grandiflora Lindernia parviflora Lindernia rotundifolia Littorella uniflora Lobelia cardinalis Lobelia dortmanna Lomariopsis sp. (Süsswassertang )Ludwigia alternifolia Ludwigia arcuata Ludwigia glandulosa Ludwigia helminthorrhiza Ludwigia inclinata Ludwigia inclinata var. verticellata 'Cuba' Ludwigia mullertii Ludwigia natans Ludwigia sedioides Ludwigia palustris Ludwigia pulvinaris Ludwigia repens Luronium natans Lycopodiella inundata (Lycopodium inundatum)Lysimachia nummularia Marsilea crenata Marsilea drummondii Marsilea hirsuta Marsilea pubescens Marsilea quadrifolia Mayaca fluviatilis Mayaca madida Mayaca vandellii Mentha aquatica Micranthemum umbrosum Microcarpaea minima Microsorum pteropus Monochoria vaginalis Monosolenium tenerum Lomariopsis sp.[1] Murdannia keisak Myriophyllum alterniflorum Myriophyllum aquaticum Myriophyllum elatinoides Myriophyllum heterophyllum Myriophyllum hippuroides Myriophyllum mattogrossense Myriophyllum proserpinacoides Myriophyllum scabratum Myriophyllum spicatum Myriophyllum tuberculatum Myriophyllum ussuriense Myriophyllum verticillatum Myriophylumm oguraense Najas graminea Najas guadelupensis Najas indica Najas marina Najas minor Najas pectinata Nechamandra alternifolia Nelumbo nucifera Neptunia oleracea Nitella capillaris Nitella flexilis Nitella gracilis Nomaphila siamensis Nuphar advenum Nuphar japonica Nuphar lutea Nuphar pumilum Nuphar sagittifolium Nymphaea alba Nymphaea lotus Nymphaea lotus var. rubra Nymphaea micrantha Nymphaea pubescens Nymphaea pygmea Nymphaea stellata Nymphaea zenkeri 'Red' Nymphoides aquatica Nymphoides humboldtiana Nymphoides indica Nymphoides peltata Oenanthe javanica Oenanthe aquatica Oldenlandia salzmannii Orontium aquaticum Ottelia alismoides Ottelia mesenterum Ottelia ulvifolia Penthorum sedoides Persicaria hydropiperoides Persicaria praetermissa Pilularia americana Pilularia globulifera Pistia stratiotes Phyllanthus fluitans Physostegia purpurea Pogostemon helferi Pogostemon stellatus Pontederia cordata Potamogeton coloratus Potamogeton crispus Potamogeton densus Potamogeton filiformis Potamogeton gayi Potamogeton gramineus Potamogeton lucens Potamogeton malaianus Potamogeton natans Potamogeton perfoliatus Proserpinaca palustris Ranunculus aquatilis Ranunculus limosella Regnellidium diphyllum Riccia fluitans Ricciocarpos natans Rorippa aquatica Rotala indica Rotala macrandra Rotala mexicana Rotala ramosior Rotala rotundifolia Rotala pusilla Rotala wallichii Ruppia maritima Sagittaria chapmani Sagittaria eatonii Sagittaria filiformis Sagittaria graminea Sagittaria guyanensis Sagittaria isoëtiformis Sagittaria latifolia Sagittaria microfila Sagittaria montevidensis Sagittaria natans Sagittaria papillosa Sagittaria platyphylla Sagittaria pusilla Sagittaria sagittifolia Sagittaria subulata Salvinia auriculata Salvinia cucullata Salvinia minima Salvinia natans Salvinia oblongifolia Salvinia rotundifolia Samolus valerandi Saururus cernuus Schismatoglottis prietoi Selaginella sp.Sium floridanum Sium latifolium Shinnersia rivularis Spiranthes romanzoffiana Spirodela polyrhiza Staurogyne repens [2] Staurogyne stolonifera Stratiotes aloides Stuckenia vaginata Subularia aquatica Syngonanthus caulescens Synnema triflorum Taxiphyllum barbieri Tonina fluviatilis Trapa natans Triglochin maritima Triglochin palustris Triglochin striata Trithuria austinensis Trithuria austinensis Trithuria australis Trithuria inconspicua Typha angustifolia Typha latifolia Utricularia bifida Utricularia gibba Utricularia graminifolia Utricularia minor Utricularia vulgaris Vallisneria americana Vallisneria asiatica Vallisneria asiatica var. biwaensis Vallisneria gigantea Vallisneria neotropicalis Vallisneria rubra Vallisneria spiralis Vallisneria tortifolia Vallisneria tortissima Vesicularia montagnei Veronica americana Wolffia arrhiza Wolffia microscopica Wolffiella floridana Zannichellia palustris
Algae
Most algae in hobby aquaria are unwanted, nuisance plants. Few algae, such as marimo (Aegagropila linnaei ), are sought after and intentionally cultivated in freshwater aquaria.
Several species of terrestrial plants are frequently sold as "aquarium plants". While such plants are beautiful and can survive and even flourish for months under water, they will eventually die and must be removed so their decay does not contaminate the aquarium water. These plants have no necessary biology to live underwater.
Illustration
Eleocharis dulcis
Hippuris vulgaris
Hottonia palustris
Isoetes lacustris
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