Baldellia ranunculoides

The lesser water-plantains of the genus Baldellia are low-growing plants distributed in Western, Central and Southern Europe as well as in some parts of Northern Africa. They were long considered to belong to the genus Echinodorus. Two to three groups are differentiated between, depending on the author they are considered to be species in their own right or subspecies:
- Baldellia ranunculoides ssp. ranunculoides = B. ranunculoides sensu strictu,
- Baldellia ranunculoides ssp. repens = B. repens,
- Baldellia alpestris, a species only distributed in moutaineous regions in Spain and Portugal, sometimes considered a synonym of B. ranunculoides ssp. repens.

Baldellia ranunculoides is, in a wider sense, mainly spread in Western Europe and also occurs in few places in Germany. According to the German Red List of 1996 it is considered critically endangered there.
The emersed form of the lesser water-plantain forms low rosulate leaves with lanceolate leaf blades and umbellate inflorescences with white to pale violet flowers. Similar to Echinodorus species, the plants form erinaceous aggregate fruit containing nutlets.
In submersed cultivation, the plant sprouts very narrow, lineal leaves with an acute tip.
Baldellia ranunculoides ssp. repens grows runners forming modified inflorescences (so-called pseudostolons), just like the species of the genus Helanthium. The submersed leaves of this plant are rather stiff.
B. ranunculoides ssp. ranunculoides forms leaf rosettes without runners. When kept under the same conditions as ssp. repens, it tends to grow larger. Its submersed leaves are quite soft.

Even though this lesser water-plantain may have been mentioned in dated aquarium literature it is not very well-known in the hobby today. Sometimes, however, it can be found in trade as a pond plant.
B. ranunculoides is said to be a highly suitable plant for coldwater tanks but also to tolerate temperatures of over 20 °C. Reports of actual experiences with this water-plantain would be highly appreciated.

- To be continued -