Freshwater
Tonina fluviatilis
Eriocaulaceae
Facts
Care
We have no care for this plant yet. If you know how it thrives, you can suggest it.
Range
Native
Lives wild in Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, French Guiana, and 9 more countries.
More about the species
Description
Paepalanthus fluviatilis is a plant species in the Eriocaulaceae. It is a hydroshrub or subshrub native to southern Mexico, Central America, northern South America (Bolivia, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, northern Brazil, and the Guianas), Cuba and Trinidad. One use of the plant is for medicinal purposes. The plant is ground up and mixed with a bark to make a liquid in which to bathe nursing infants. It is thought to give the infant strength. It is also used as an aquarium plant. The shape of its leaf is pleasing and its color makes a good contrast with other plants when it is planted in small groups. However, it is difficult to grow as an aquarium plant. The species was first described as Tonina fluviatilis by Jean Baptiste Christophore Fusée Aublet in 1775. In 2018 Maarten J. M. Christenhusz and James W. Byng placed the species in genus Paepalanthus as P. fluviatilis.
Other names
Other scientific names
- Eriocaulon amplexicaule
- Eriocaulon sphagnoides
- Hyphydra amplexicaulis
- Hyphydra fluviatilis
- Paepalanthus fluviatilis
Articles
All articles
How to set up a South American aquarium4 min read
Soft, acidic water, subdued light, sand, roots and fallen leaves: how to set up a biotope aquarium from the Amazon and the rivers around it.
How to set up a Central American aquarium5 min read
Hard, alkaline water, sand and rock: an aquarium from the rivers and lakes of Mexico and Central America, with cichlids and livebearers.
How to care for aquarium plants3 min read
Light, nutrients and CO₂ in balance, low tech versus high tech, and how to read from the leaves what your plants are missing.