Ludwigia palustris "Super Red"

This Ludwigia has recently (2011 or 2012) come onto the market as a novelty as Ludwigia sp. 'Red', L. sp. 'Super Red' or simply as Ludwigia sp. It is already offered by several companies; Tropica (Denmark) currently (2013) lists it under the number 035B. This plant lives up to its name, as under water it turns deep red to dark red even at not too high a light intensity.

We have no information about the original origin of the plant; it was apparently obtained from nurseries in Southeast Asia.

This Ludwigia certainly belongs to the widespread species Ludwigia palustris, but under the same conditions it colours a more intense red than conventional L. palustris, which takes on an orange-red or light cherry-red colouration in strong light.

With its colouration this plant is also reminiscent of Ludwigia “Rubin”, which, however, develops distinctly larger, somewhat more elongated underwater leaves. The leaves of L. palustris “Super Red” are always arranged decussately (i.e. in pairs) on the stem, whereas in L. “Rubin” they are in part also arranged alternately (not exactly opposite each other). It is possible that confusion will nevertheless occur now and then in future, because Ludwigia “Rubin” is sometimes also labelled Ludwigia sp. “Red”.

The underwater shoots of Ludwigia palustris “Super Red” are up to about 6.5 cm wide. The leaves are relatively long-stalked. The leaf blades are about 1.5 to 2.2 cm long and up to 1.6 cm wide. The whole leaf with its stalk is approx. 2 to 3.3 cm long. The distance between every two stem nodes (= the internode length) is about 1 to 2 cm.

This Ludwigia is not a difficult aquarium plant and is just as tolerant of different cultivation conditions as Ludwigia repens, conventional L. palustris and L. palustris x repens.

With its relatively small leaves, Ludwigia palustris “Super Red” can be used in nano aquariums, for which the likewise intensely coloured but larger Ludwigia “Rubin” is not as well suited. L. palustris “Super Red” forms (like conventional Ludwigia palustris) many side shoots and therefore grows quite bushy, which can be encouraged by pruning. With it, an intense red colour accent can be set easily in planted aquariums. The contrast with light green, likewise bushy-growing, relatively small-leaved stem plants such as Bacopa australis should be interesting.

- To be continued -