Echinodorus tenellus

Belongs to the family of the Alismataceae, that congregates the Echinodorus and Sagitarias. The Echinodorus is the minor of all. Distributed from the South to the North America even in Southeast of Brazil. It is a small, perennial, aquatic or emergent, ideal plant to form dense " carpets frontais" in aquariums and paludariums. But in underwater form is evident the differentiation between leave and the limb.

Presenting itself in the rosette form whose leves, green clearly to the flag, reach of 5 the 10 cm of length for 2 4 mm of width with 1 the 3 longitudinal ribbings. The varieties are many, as the geographic distribution: E. tenellus to var. tenellus, to var. angustifolia, to var. microphylla, to var. ecostatus, to var. parvulus, to var. latifolius... This last one already promoted the category of species.

With clear intensei llumination and with a fine substratum (thick sand or fine gravel) and rich one, it spreads extraordinary fast for (1 the 2 leaves per week), that quickly make roots. Emersa only produces flowers in the form. Under moderate illumination it presents prolongated leves, not supporting sombreamento for long periods.

Under intense light small leves, finer and colored appear. It is not very demanding how much to the temperature (of 15 29°C), pH (6,5 the 7,2) and hardness (3 the 18). Very it is confused with grassy or " false-tenellus" (Lilaeopsis brasiliensis) and with the dwarfed Sagitária (Sagittaria subulata to var. pussila (), microfolia (), graminnea ())