Plantaginaceae

Limnophila aromatica 'Mini'

Limnophila aromatica

A variety of:Rice Paddy Herb

A dwarf form of the rice paddy herb (Limnophila aromatica 'Mini'): the underwater leaves are often only 1–2.5 cm long, and under intense light they turn a splendid brownish red with a light-green midrib and stem.
Light
high
Difficulty
medium
Temperature
15 – 30 °C (59 – 86 °F)
Native rangeRange on the map
  • Assam
  • Bangladesh
  • Bismarck Archipelago
  • Cambodia
  • Caroline Is.
  • China Southeast
  • East Himalaya
  • Hainan
  • India
  • Japan
  • Jawa
  • Korea
  • Laos
  • Malaya
  • Myanmar
  • Nansei-shoto
  • New Guinea
  • Northern Territory
  • Philippines
  • Queensland
  • Sri Lanka
  • Taiwan
  • Vietnam
  • Western Australia

Tank conditions

Leaf colour
green, red, pink or purple
Plant type
stem plant
Growth rate
fast
pH
6 – 7
Carbonate hardness
2 – 12 °dKH
General hardness
0 – 30 °dGH
Placement
background, midground +2 background, midground, nano tank, foreground
Propagation
cuttings
Grows emersed
yes

Care and keeping

Appearance

Much smaller than the usual forms of the species: the underwater leaves have a toothed edge, are often 1–2.5 cm long, and sit opposite each other or in whorls, usually of three. With intense light and a generous supply of CO₂ and nutrients they can be 3–5 cm long and 4–5 mm wide, with whorls of up to 6 leaves. Shoots can exceed 30 cm, but it looks best as a group 10–20 cm tall. The above-water leaves are coarser and medium green.

Keeping

Moderate difficulty, growth fast, light strong, CO₂ 20–40 mg/l, temperature 22–26 °C. In intense light the underwater leaves are brownish red, with a lighter midrib and stem; in moderate light the leaves are more light green. Underwater the stomata show up as a mass of silvery dots on the leaves.

Placement

Midground, nano aquarium, foreground in a group.

Trade names

It first became known as Limnophila sp. 'Mini', also as L. sp. 'Kalimantan Mini' — the trade name hints at Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of the island of Borneo, though its exact origin is unknown. It was mistaken for Limnophila repens, but the flower structure matches L. aromatica. Under the same name L. aromatica 'Mini', another small limnophila is also sold, one more similar to Limnophila hippuridoides.

Fish and this plant

Matching water does not mean the fish will leave the plant alone.

Scientific and other names, conservation status

Other scientific names
Ambulia aromatica Lam., Gratiola aromatica (Lam.) Pers., Limnophila chinensis subsp. aromatica (Lam.) T. Yamaz., Limnophila gratissima Blume, Limnophila punctata Blume, Ambuli gratissima, Ambulia aromatica, Ambulia gratissima, Antirrhinum aquaticum, Gratiola aromatica, Limnophila aromaticoides, Limnophila chamaedrifolia, Limnophila chinensis aromatica, Limnophila chinensis scaberrima, Limnophila gratissima, Limnophila punctata, Limnophila punctata subracemosa, Stemodia punctata, Terebinthina aromatica, Terebinthina aromatica punctata
Limnophila aromatica
(Lam.) Merr.
Conservation status
LC