Synonyms
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image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gonzalovalenzuela/4090475855/
E. osiris rubra hort.; E. species rubra hort.; E. Schweden; E. species; E. peruensis var. rubra
Distribution
Southern Brazil. Seems to have been first collected by Hans Griem in the
1950s but was re-collected by Thomas Horemann. Found naturally in
running, relatively cool waters coming down from the mountains. On the
bottom of these rivers it forms stands of hundreds of plants.
Description
Submersed leaves membraneous, young leaves golden-brown, older leaves green, 3- to 60 cm long. Petioles 8 to 20 cm long, blades 20 to 30 cm long by 3 to 5.5 cm wide, oval, on both ends acuminate, having undulate margins and 3 to 5 veins. Veins pseudopinnerved or orientated towards the base. Emerse leaves 50 to 80 cm, occasionally 100 cm, long, petioles irregularly cylindrical, 40 to 70 cm long, blades pvalm or ovate, 14 to 18 cm long by 7 to 10 cm wide having 5 to 7 veins. Emersed and submersed leaves trimmed with distinct pelucid lines.
Stems upright, later deflexed, 80 to 150 cm long, proliferous. Inflorescence racemose or branched in the lower whorl, having 6 to 12 whorls containing 6 to 12 flowers each. Bracts lanceolate, 1.5 to 2 cm long by 5 to 6 mm wide, pedicels 1 to 4 cm long. Sepals 5 to 6 mm long, corolla white, stamens 18 to 24, achenes unknown.
Stems upright, later deflexed, 80 to 150 cm long, proliferous. Inflorescence racemose or branched in the lower whorl, having 6 to 12 whorls containing 6 to 12 flowers each. Bracts lanceolate, 1.5 to 2 cm long by 5 to 6 mm wide, pedicels 1 to 4 cm long. Sepals 5 to 6 mm long, corolla white, stamens 18 to 24, achenes unknown.
Cultivation
Needs a spacious aquarium with medium-hard water, a good substrate, tropical temperatures (though it can tolerate cooler water). Good light. Propagated by division and by adventitious plantlets. The red colour seems more intense in cooler waters, but seems to fade in iron-deficient waters. There seem to be several different forms, including triploid and tetraploid forms. No fertile seeds have been observed.
