| When considering plants for your aquarium, keep | | | | it has become welcome in smaller aquariums. It |
| in mind their uses for providing oxygen and | | | | does not grow very long and does not usually |
| purification as well as creating a beautiful setting. | | | | tangle. Its 2 to 8 inch leaves are strong and the |
| Only 5 kinds of plants have come into general use. | | | | plant is a long-lived good oxygenator. |
| Three favorites have running stems to which | | | | The Sagittaria subulata species has become very |
| leaves are attached. They are Myriophyllum, | | | | popular. Its leaves are narrower and thicker. They |
| Cabomba, and Anarcharis. The other two are in | | | | are also a darker green and straighter. These |
| grassy form - Vallisneria and Sagittaria. Each is | | | | leaves are from 5 to 10 inches long and rather |
| easily obtained and propagated. | | | | wiry. |
| The Vallisneria species has a tall graceful grass like | | | | All of these aquatic species of Sagittaria throw up |
| form with narrow silken light green leaves that | | | | summer stalks which develop long leaves above |
| rise vertically in undulating lines. It gives a charm | | | | the water surface. Flower stems bear pretty |
| to an aquarium that is both aquatic and artistic. | | | | white cup flowers with a yellow ball in the center. |
| The plant multiplies rapidly in moderately good light | | | | The Cabomba when in good condition is one of |
| and forms a dense but not impenetrable thicket | | | | the brightest and most beautiful aquarium greens. |
| or screen. It is a good oxygenator and it's roots | | | | It's used chiefly for its attractiveness and plentiful |
| tend to purify the soil. | | | | supply. Its fan shaped leaves on a running stem |
| The Sagittaria is a famous old aquarium plant | | | | form a good refuge for young fishes. |
| having a grasslike form. This plant comes in many | | | | Anacharis is accepted as an excellent oxygenator, |
| more species than Vallisneria. The three most | | | | and is one of the fastest growing aquarium plants, |
| popular are Sagisttaria gigantea, Sagisttaria natans, | | | | up to an inch a day. When rapid growth occurs in |
| and Sagistarria subulata. | | | | poor lighting, the plants lack vigor. Anacharis does |
| The strong green leaves of Sagittaria gigantea | | | | best in outdoor ponds out of full sun, where it |
| are a half inch or more wide and 7 to 14 inches in | | | | produces gorgeous thick leaf masses. |
| length. They are firm and stand a fair amount of | | | | Myriophyllum is a plant of delicate beauty. Its fine |
| buffeting by nets, once they are well rooted. The | | | | leaves attached to a stem make a perfect maze |
| roots become quite vigorous and should be | | | | for catching the spawn of egg dropping fishes. It |
| planted 2 inches deep. | | | | naturally floats just below the surface and can be |
| The Sagittaria natans is the original Sagittaria of | | | | firmly fastened to the bottom. Bits of its |
| the aquarium and was very popular, especially in | | | | feathery leaves are introduced into the |
| the early days of the fancy Goldfish. In the larger | | | | construction of breeding nests of some fishes. |
| Goldfish tank it was replaced by Sagittaria | | | | These are just a few of the wide variety of |
| gigantea. | | | | plants available for fish lovers everywhere. |
| Since the popularity of tropical fishes has spread, | | | | |