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Bolbitis heteroclita is an aquatic fern from tropical Asia and the Pacific, grown in planted aquariums and garden ponds. Its key to success is soft, slightly acidic water with gentle flow and roots tied to driftwood or rock just below the surface, rather than fully submerged.
Bolbitis heteroclita is an aquatic fern species of Bolbitis, it is native to Southeast Asia and Melanesia, as well as parts of northeastern South Asia, southern East Asia, and Micronesia (Pohnpei and Kosrae). It is commonly cultivated as an aquatic ornamental for aquariums and garden ponds.
Bolbitis heteroclita is, fairly commonly, cultivated and sold as an ornamental plant for planted aquariums and garden ponds. It is one of two species of Bolbitis that are popular for use as freshwater aquarium plants, the second being Bolbitis heudelotii. Despite their relative popularity, these plants are not suitable for most novice aquarists. They can be unexpectedly sensitive in some cases, requiring minimal flow of water, with a gentle current; soft, acidic water is also preferred, ideally between 6.0 and 7.0, although there may be exceptions based on local water qualities. As these ferns are more adapted to a riparian, semi-submerged growth habit (rather than fully aquatic and submerged), it may be taxing on the plants to maintain them fully underwater, long-term. It is best to cultivate aquatic ferns, including Bolbitis, with their roots simply tied or attached to driftwood or rocks, and only a few inches beneath the water's surface.
Bolbitis heteroclita is native to the subtropical and tropical regions Asia, Melanesia, and Micronesia; including Assam (India), Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan in South Asia; southern China (including Hainan), Taiwan, and the Ryukyu Islands (Japan) in East Asia; Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam in Mainland Southeast Asia; Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines in Island Southeast Asia; Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands in Melanesia; and Pohnpei and Kosrae in the Caroline Islands in Micronesia.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Bolbitis heteroclita by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
