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Ceratopteris
Also called Watersprite
Ceratopteris is a genus of four to six aquatic or semi-aquatic ferns from the humid tropics, commonly grown as the aquarium plant water sprite. The key to growing it is keeping it wet or submerged in warm, bright conditions.
Ceratopteris is the only genus among homosporous ferns that is exclusively aquatic. It is pan-tropical and classified in the Parkerioideae subfamily of the family Pteridaceae.
This widespread genus of four to six species inhabits the humid tropics.
Ceratopteris is a fairly popular aquarium plant, often sold under the name "water sprite." It may be grown as an emersed but natant (floating) plant, or as an immersed plant rooted in the substrate. Under the right conditions the plants will grow fully emerse erect leaves. Under a bright light the plants can grow fast, and be used to help cycle an aquarium.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Ceratopteris 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.
