Cellophane sword facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cellophane sword |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Echinodorus
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| Species: |
berteroi
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Echinodorus berteroi is an aquatic plant. It is also known as the upright burhead or cellophane sword. This plant belongs to the Alismataceae family. You can find it growing naturally in the southern and central United States. It also grows in Central America, the West Indies, and South America. Its range extends as far south as Argentina.
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About the Cellophane Sword Plant
What Does Echinodorus berteroi Look Like?
This plant has different kinds of leaves. Some leaves grow underwater. These are often long and thin, like ribbons. They can be 10 to 45 centimeters (about 4 to 18 inches) long. These underwater leaves are usually light green and see-through. Sometimes, they have a mosaic-like pattern.
Other leaves grow above the water. These are called "emerse" leaves. They have long stems and are also light green. Their blades are heart-shaped. They can be 5 to 12 centimeters (about 2 to 5 inches) long. If the plant grows on land, its leaves might be smaller. They would be more oval-shaped.
You can see clear lines inside the leaves. These are called pellucid lines. They are usually 1 to 5 millimeters long.
How Does the Plant Grow and Flower?
The plant has an upright stem. Its flowers grow in a branched cluster called an inflorescence. If the plant grows on land, its stem might be shorter.
The flowers are white and about 1.5 centimeters (about half an inch) wide. Each flower has 12 stamens. These are the parts that produce pollen. After flowering, the plant forms many small fruits. These are called nutlets. They are grey-brown and about 2.5 to 3.5 millimeters long.
A mature plant can have many leaves. These leaves can look quite different from each other.
Growing Echinodorus berteroi
Caring for Your Cellophane Sword Plant
This plant likes a large tank if you grow it in an aquarium. It needs a deep, rich soil at the bottom. It also needs good light to grow well. Echinodorus berteroi is easy to grow. However, it can quickly become too big for a typical home aquarium.
How to Help Your Plant Grow
You can grow new plants from existing ones. If the plant is underwater, small new plants can form on the flower stalk. You can gently separate these and plant them.
If the plant grows above water, it will produce seeds. You can plant these seeds in shallow trays. Use sand and warm, shallow water.
This plant prefers soft water that is a bit acidic. It grows best in sub-tropical to tropical temperatures. It does not seem to do well in hard water.
In warmer areas, you can grow Echinodorus berteroi in or near a pond. Just make sure to protect it from frost in colder months.
