E. tennellus

**Johnc** · 20th Dec 2005, 23:30

Hi folks,

My E. tennellus have been sending up emergent flowers non-stop. At first it is quite interesting, but it is becoming messy and irritating.

Anyone knows how to stop them them from doing so?

Also, I think perhaps because of low-wattage in my tank, some of the tennellus have grown to 1 feet tall. Does anyone have any suggestion how I can keep them short without increasing the wattage?

I am slowly getting rid of all the faster growing plants in my main tank, but I don't want to do it too quickly as that will induce an algae bloom.

/John

**budak** · 20th Dec 2005, 23:44

sounds like you have Sagitarria subulatus, not ET. Check the Photo Gallery.

**Johnc** · 21st Dec 2005, 10:46

Originally Posted by budak

sounds like you have Sagitarria subulatus, not ET. Check the Photo Gallery.

You know what? You may just be right! My "E. tenellus" does not look like what Thomas has, but now that you mention, it does look very much like the Sagitarria subulatus that I received from Thomas.

Strange though, for when I bought it months ago, it looks exactly like the photo in http://www.aquahobby.com/garden/e_tenellus.php. Even when they started spreading, they look like that, but slowly they started growing taller.

OK, when I have the time, I will take a picture of the flowers. Maybe someone can help me identify it more accurately.

Also, I found and article at http://www.thekrib.com/Plants/Plants/chain-swords.html

Originally Posted by Neil

In article <HoeschB.9.00090D82-at-fws.gov>, Bob Hoesch <HoeschB-at-fws.gov> wrote:
>
>
>On a different thread, does anyone know about the taxonomy of "dwarf chain
>swords"? I used to buy Echinodorus magdalenensis from Robert Gasser. This
>designation doesen't seem to be current. Since then I've seen designations
>of "E. latifolius", " E. latifolius var. magdalenensis", "E.bolivianus",
>"E.bolivianus var. magdalanensis" and "E. quadricostatus", all for what
>appears to be the same plant. And this is not the same plant as E.
>tenellus, the "pygmy chain sword". Then there is something called
Lilaeopsis,
>which is also called "micro chain sword". Are there any plant taxonomists
>out there who can sort this mess?
>

Although I am definitely not a taxonomist, I think I can shed some light.
I have been recently trying to sort out the differences among the different
chain swords and am trying to prepare a review article which focuses
on the Echinodorus. Here is the introduction:
Among the many plants of the genus Echinodorus (commonly known as
sword plants) are only a few varieties which propagate by rhizome
runners. These are commonly called the "chain" swords. The
aquarium literature has assigned names such as pygmy chain sword,
dwarf amazon sword and junior sword. Under proper conditions,
these form dense lawns in the aquatic garden and as such are an
ideal foreground plant. In his recent revision to the genus
(1975), Rataj lists six species from North and South America
which reproduce in this manner: E. tenellus, E. latifolius, E.
quadricostatus, E. angustifolius, E. austroamericanus, and E.
isthmicus. Some of these have more than one variety and Rataj
notes that there may also be hybrids. There is also a chain
sword species from Africa - E. humilis. Anyone who has surveyed
the aquarium plant or botanical literature will have noticed that
these names constantly undergo changes. There is little
consistency among authors. You will see many older names for
'chain' swords - Echinodorus intermediatus, E. magdalenensis, E.
grisbachii, E. spec. 'longifolius,' E. subulatus, E. parvulus and
possibly others. Some of these names (E. grisebachii and E.
intermediatus) are still in use, but to describe different
plants. Also, it now seems that more recent revisions have been
formalized and E. austroamericanus may be called E. bolivianus
(discussed in De Wit, 1990) and so it goes. One will also see
inconsistent use among the common names. In this article, I
review the similarities and differences in the various
descriptions and illustrations found in the aquarium literature
and attempt to assign names to the plants in my collection.

[I have E. tenellus (2 varieties - var. tenellus and var.
parvulus), E. quadricostatus and possibly E. latifolius.
Echinodorus intermediatus and E. magdalenensis seem to be old
names (i.e. synonyms) for E. quadricostatus and E. intermediatus,
respectively.]

Neil

Wonder if I might have one of these varieties?

/John

**kemp** · 21st Dec 2005, 10:56

bro,
does your e.tennellus look like this? Extract the pic from one of our forum bro's avater

**Johnc** · 21st Dec 2005, 11:04

No, it does not. Looked exactly like as in http://www.aquahobby.com/garden/e_tenellus.php

**Justikanz** · 21st Dec 2005, 11:09

John, dun think that is Echinodoras tenellus, and that would not be Sagitarria subulatus also... Looks like another short Echinodoras sp. that looks like the S. subulatus. Its leaves can grow to about 1ft tall. I used to have them too... I just call them chain swords as I can't ID them...

**kemp** · 21st Dec 2005, 15:35

hmm...bro then most likely your could not be the type of e.tenellus we have
usually, my doesnt grow up to that tall

Originally Posted by Johnc

No, it does not. Looked exactly like as in http://www.aquahobby.com/garden/e_tenellus.php

**|squee|** · 21st Dec 2005, 19:13

Tennellus should be something like this:

A clearer look will be:
http://lucky.olomouc.com/foreground/...s/P1050165.JPG

Johnc, I think other than trimming off the older (and naturally taller) leaves, there's nothing much you can do about leave height.

**Johnc** · 21st Dec 2005, 20:49

Hey, this is what mine looks like. Especially the one picture at http://lucky.olomouc.com/foreground/...s/P1050165.JPG

But this is quite different from the picture that Thomas posted; or even in the avatar that kemp posted.

So who is the real McCoy?

Or is it simply that they look different under different condition. Do yours grow up to 6 or 7 inches, squee?

**|squee|** · 21st Dec 2005, 22:20

Mine reached 4 inches approx in low light conditions (24W in a 60cm tank). I'm certain E.Tenellus should look like those in the pictures I posted. The emersed form of Tenellus will look like the avatar kemp posted. As far as I know, I'm positive Tenellus should not have rounded leaf edges.

**Justikanz** · 21st Dec 2005, 22:21

My tenellus dun grow tall. But I had recieved tenellus with long leaves. But not tall. Rather, their leaves spread out. And they sprout reddish or greenish (depends on light intensity) small leaves after settling down... Still dun think those that grow to 6" are tenellus...

**Justikanz** · 21st Dec 2005, 22:33

Oh, yes... The end of the leaves should be pointed... Maybe can show us your tenellus.

**Johnc** · 21st Dec 2005, 23:35

Mine was originally rounded like the picture in aquahobby, but now it is more pointed. Here's two pictures I took. Pardon the poor quality. Would this be ET? Or just some nameless chainsword?

**Justikanz** · 21st Dec 2005, 23:39

Seriously look like another dwarf Echinodoras sp.... Are you at home tomorrow about 4pm? If so, maybe I can drop by tomorrow and take a look.

**Johnc** · 22nd Dec 2005, 00:03

Thanks for the offer, Thomas. Not possible tommorrow. Maybe another day (next year), I'll bring a plant to you... for your assessment, and maybe take one of yours too

Also, I have ruled out Sagitarria subulatus as it is not as stiff as the Sag you passed me, though the taller ones looks similar.

Are you certain the picture at aquahobby is wrong?

/John

**Justikanz** · 22nd Dec 2005, 00:11

I'd better let more experienced guys comment before confirming anything...

**babyhidjaya** · 22nd Dec 2005, 00:31

hi, my tennellus also grow tall. about 20 cm.what i want to ask, does tennellus get 3 colour at their leaves? thanks anyway

**kemp** · 22nd Dec 2005, 08:37

Bro, hmmm...from the look like it, doesn't look like ET
the leaves should be more pointed that that

Originally Posted by Johnc

Mine was originally rounded like the picture in aquahobby, but now it is more pointed. Here's two pictures I took. Pardon the poor quality. Would this be ET? Or just some nameless chainsword?

**Johnc** · 24th Jan 2006, 17:28

Ok, here's a picture of the flower. I did not post the flower earlier as I cut them all off, but I am getting another flower attack.

Appreciate if someone can help ID this this plant. Thanks

/John

**Green Baron** · 24th Jan 2006, 20:47

John,
What you have is Sagittaria subulatus. 100% sure. I have them in my tanks and they flower once in a while. Also, Sagittaria has horizontal veins across the leaf as shown in your photo.

BTW http://www.aquahobby.com/garden/e_tenellus.php is not a E. tenellus. It is an Echinodorus species but not E. tenellus. I have this species, E. tenellus, E. quadricostatus, E. latifolius and Sagittaria subulatus in my tanks

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