Acrosticum

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Acrostichum (lat. Acrostichum) - an aquatic plant belonging to the Pteris family.

Description

The average height of the acrosticum reaches one and a half to two meters, and a little less often it can reach up to four meters (as a rule, this happens under too favorable moisture conditions). This plant boasts the presence of extremely massive ascending straight rhizomes, which are completely covered with scales and help the handsome acrosticum to be perfectly retained in any substrate. And from all the rhizomes, in turn, sufficiently fleshy roots depart.

The sterile leaves of this fern practically do not differ from the fertile ones - they are the same pinnate and are characterized by reticular venation, a huge number of miniature stomata on the surfaces, and whole and fairly large segments.

Currently, there are several varieties of acrostichum in nature - they all differ from each other exclusively in morphological structure. The most famous and widespread are the graceful acrostichum and the golden acrosticum.

Where grows

Acrosticum can be found almost everywhere where there are mangrove swamps. It not only forms its own picturesque thickets, but also develops beautifully in the thickets of the chip - a low-growing palm tree. And sometimes it can be seen among the thickets of some other mangrove plants. It is believed that this fern species takes root very well in swamps with lakes, as well as in any areas that previously received water from regular sea tides, and then, for some reason, were cut off from them.

The rather large tetrahedral spores of this extraordinary plant are capable of germinating under various conditions. Sometimes acrosticum can be seen even on rocks in coastal zones, however, plants growing in such conditions do not reach solid sizes.

Usage

Acrosticum is used mainly for decorating aquariums, however, for its cultivation it is necessary to acquire truly gigantic containers.

Growing and caring

For the design of aquariums, the acrosticum will be a real boon. As soon as its height reaches ten centimeters or exceeds it, the acrostic can be immediately placed in the aquarium. In relation to the bottom surface, this plant is always placed vertically, and to make the design of the aquarium look even more spectacular, you can combine the acrosticum with any other aquarium vegetation.

As for prolonged immersion in water, his acrostichum is not always able to withstand. And, nevertheless, its roots in any case need constant moisture. By the way, acrosticum gold is often grown both in low freshwater aquariums and in paludariums, securely fixing its most powerful rhizomes in the ground with ordinary hairpins. As for the temperature of the water in aquariums, it should be between eighteen and twenty-four degrees. And to place acrostic gold in aquariums should be either in the middle or in the foreground.

The reproduction of the handsome acrosticum occurs by spores, and they will germinate best in fresh water. The sufficiently large size of the spores makes it possible for this plant to reproduce even in the greenhouses of picturesque botanical gardens. And sometimes the rhizomes of an amazing fern can form several new plants from dormant buds - as soon as the height of such plants reaches eight to ten centimeters, they can be safely separated.