Ceratopteris Cornutus

[jewels]

Mostly I just like the name; because it rhymes with cornuts. :notworthy:
Also I like it because because it is the fastest growing plant I know.
Recently we had a closer look @ Bolbitis.

Summary ?
likes the shade:Cool:
continues off a rhizome (like jave fern?)
takes the slow-grow:Waiting:As I understand it both are true ferns (as defined by , ,? spores ? )
Both are African and both are highly pinnate.

Here is one difference-The Cornutus strikes out like a rosette.
The major departure ? It is the fastest growing plant I know.

Nov. 23rd
http://i385.photobucket.com/albums/oo292/themotherjewels/FISH/th_P1180490.jpg (http://s385.photobucket.com/albums/oo292/themotherjewels/FISH/?action=view&current=P1180490.jpg)
Nov. 26th
http://i385.photobucket.com/albums/oo292/themotherjewels/FISH/th_P1180496-1.jpg (http://s385.photobucket.com/albums/oo292/themotherjewels/FISH/?action=view&current=P1180496-1.jpg)

Love this stuff.

[Kimr]

Definitely a pretty plant/leaf. And I like how it grows fast for you.

[jewels]

This thing just went bonkers yesterday.
Notice the little frond on the left? When I took the photo's on my lunch break it was still knuckled up.
http://i385.photobucket.com/albums/oo292/themotherjewels/FISH/P1180496-1-1.jpg
When I returned from work , ,,I found , , , I had missed much , ,,
http://i385.photobucket.com/albums/oo292/themotherjewels/FISH/th_P1180513.jpg (http://s385.photobucket.com/albums/oo292/themotherjewels/FISH/?action=view&current=P1180513.jpg)
Elapsed time ?
Six hours
http://i385.photobucket.com/albums/oo292/themotherjewels/FISH/th_P1180510-1.jpg (http://s385.photobucket.com/albums/oo292/themotherjewels/FISH/?action=view&current=P1180510-1.jpg)

[CACAdmin]

Neat plant... amazing how fast it grows. I'd love to try it sometime and Bolbitis seems to like my tank (but is a slow grower)

[Ursus sapien]

looks so different from most aqua plants you see. most desirable.

[Melody]

Water Sprite? It doesn't have a fast growth problem here, it has a disappearing problem :confused:. Nice pictures!

[Edgezilla]

Cornutus is a relative of the water sprite we see regularly.

Water sprite is Ceratopteris thalictroides. I haven't seen Ceratopteris Cornutus available in a long time. Tropica carried it a long time ago, but stopped propagating the plant.

From what I recall, Cornutus gets a lot bigger than the thalictroides.

Water sprite is a great plant for fry tank because it floats. Less messy than duckweed and can grow a few inches below water surface. great nutrient sponge and can grow in low light when floating.

I never did like the plant while growing in the substrate. The leaves rips easily and start forming a lot of plantlet like java fern.

[jewels]

After the first week, this has filled out rather nicely.
I slacked on the phosphate for a few days and the effect was apparent. It really did not grow after two days without N and P.
As such I would say it makes an excellent plant to serve as an indicator; if you were keeping a close eye on things.
:yes:
The frond on the left is the one that was knuckled up on the 27th. The one one the right is new

http://i385.photobucket.com/albums/oo292/themotherjewels/FISH/P1180556.jpg