Nesaea triflora

Nesaea triflora is a synonym of Ammannia capitellata; it was under this name that the plant became known in the aquarium hobby.²⁵ When all Nesaea species were moved to Ammannia in 2013, the name Ammannia triflora was already taken by an Australian species; the plant was therefore first called A. mauritiana until A. capitellata proved to be valid.²⁵

It occurs on Madagascar, the Comoros, Réunion and Mauritius; POWO assigns the name to the nominate subspecies, whose range also includes East Africa, India and Sri Lanka.²⁴ The clone in cultivation was imported in 2000 from the Ambodimanga river in eastern Madagascar and also thrives in moderately hard water.²⁵ Its submersed leaves are yellowish green with reddish to orange-pink marbling, especially in strong light.²³

1. Graham, S.A. & Gandhi, K. (2013): Nomenclatural Changes Resulting from the Transfer of Nesaea and Hionanthera to Ammannia (Lythraceae). - Harvard Papers in Botany 18 (1): 71-90.
2. Kasselmann, C. (2019): Aquarienpflanzen. 4th edition (German). - Ulmer Verlag, Stuttgart: p. 112.
3. Ammannia capitellata – Aquasabi (accessed 5 October 2026)
4. Ammannia capitellata subsp. capitellata – Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew (WCVP data as of 4 June 2026, accessed 5 October 2026)
5. Ammannia capitellata – Flowgrow aquatic plant database (accessed 5 October 2026)