Plant Id

[hamza]

Hi,

Here are a couple of plants collected by my friend from local water body.


This I think is some potamageton sp. dont know what exactly

This is a tricky plant, In shallows under sunlight this grows very dark red and low. It doesnt forms tight carpet but curls down to not more than 6" tall.

This is the tricky bit about it, 3 forms of the very same plant...

A close-up of same plant. Leaf structure certainly shows that it isnt a kind of rotala

 

[Tom Barr]

How about a location?

It's not the common species in the hobby or that are commonly collected. The 1st pic looks like P crispus, if you find cactus like turions, then like that's what it is. Most pondweeds die off in the winter or form structures that over winter.
P crispus does not, it actually sprouts in the Fall and overwinters as a small young plant, this way it has a head start when the ice is melting, the water warms up and there's more light.
Looks like the young plants and give the season right now.............not much else will be growing really.

 

[hamza]

I am from Hyderabad, India.

Thank you for the Id on first plant, it is indeed p.crispus. I was a lil confused since I collected another potamageton(maybe another form of it) from the same lake a couple of years back and believed it was PC. You can see the red plant in photo below.

[attachment=1351:name]

As for the other plant, someone identified as nechamandra alternifolia.

There is very little information about these plants on forums/plant profiles. Will certainly appreciate if someone can share their growth conditions, experiences and pictures from the tank.

 

[Tom Barr]

I am from Hyderabad, India.

Thank you for the Id on first plant, it is indeed p.crispus. I was a lil confused since I collected another potamageton(maybe another form of it) from the same lake a couple of years back and believed it was PC. You can see the red plant in photo below.

View attachment 3982

As for the other plant, someone identified as nechamandra alternifolia.

There is very little information about these plants on forums/plant profiles. Will certainly appreciate if someone can share their growth conditions, experiences and pictures from the tank.

In southern India and Sri Lanka, there are many aquatic plants and many have NEVER been kept much in the hobby. I would say that region is a hot spot for aquatic plant species, along with the Eastern USA, South East Asia, Australia and of course Africa and South America.
Seems very few people have explored and tried to use the plants from India. Nechamandra alternifolia is not kept commonly outside India. I doubt it's kept commonly there also.

You are centrally located in that region, so I'd try down south West(Ghats) and then North East(coastal mountains). There is a large Forest reserve south of you also. Use google maps/earth and look for streams and bends where you can stop off the road and explore.
I realize these are not that close to you, in facts, these are weekend trips at best. But you get to see lots of nice things along the way.

 

[hamza]

Unfortunately very few people consider trying such plants(unless the plant suddenly turns exotic, like UG/H.pinnatifida).

You made me all excited, I wish I dint had my semester exams up close. But I'll atleast try the small lakes and streams around me...

There are a couple of chaps who already started exploring the streams around Western Ghats.