Microcarpaea minima
- Little known foreground plant
- Bushy growth
- Freshly green colour
- Rare in the trade
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Description
Microcarpaea minima is a small, delicate marsh plant from Southeast Asia, Japan and northern Australia that can also grow under water. It occurs in and around shallow, warm, periodic waters such as ponds and rice paddies and also on river banks. It is the only species of the genus Microcarpaea and, like Glossostigma, belongs to the family Phrymaceae. It was first introduced as an aquarium plant in 2001 by Wim Tomey (Netherlands) from West Kalimantan, and it is still a rarity in the aquarium hobby. In ADA's in vitro range it is labelled Microcarpaea minima Merrill; Merrill is the author's citation of the botanical species name.
In the terrestrial form, this plantlet forms low cushions with 3-5 mm long, narrow leaves and small pale purple flowers on very thin stems. Submerged, the stems grow flat-bushy to creeping in plenty of light and form a dense, flat cushion. In moderate light, the shoots grow rather upright, strongly branched and loosely in all directions, the leaves then becoming up to 20 mm long and 1-2 mm wide. This plant has a light, fresh green tone in the underwater form.
Leaf structure of the submerged leaves
This plant is not too difficult to cultivate, but rather strong lighting, soft to medium hard water and CO2 addition are recommended. It is considered warmth-loving, so the temperature should be at least above 20 °C. Planting the tender stems can be a little fiddly; they are best placed in the substrate with tweezers, either individually or in small clumps, spaced a little apart. The growing, spreading bushes can be kept low by pruning.
Microcarpaea minima is certainly still little known among aquascapers. It looks decorative as a low, light green bush or small carpet in the foreground to middle ground and fits well in small aquariums. With its almost needle-like narrow leaves and thin stems, it differs from many other foreground plants. This plant should also be interesting for well-lit emers set-ups in its cushion-like land form; you can then also expect its tiny flowers and fruit capsules.
Microcarpaea minima, the only species in its genus, is a delicate marsh plant whose range extends from Japan through South-East Asia to northern Australia.12 It grows on riverbanks and in shallow, very warm pools or rice fields that hold water only seasonally.12 It reached the aquarium hobby in 2001 through the Dutchman Wim Tomey, who had brought it back from West Kalimantan; it remains a rarity in the hobby to this day.12
Its narrow, almost needle-shaped leaves are only 3–5 mm long on land but up to 2 cm long and light green underwater. (read more)
| Complete botanical name | Microcarpáea mínima (K.D. Koenig ex Retz.) Merr. |
| Family | Phrymaceae |
| Genus | Microcarpaea |
| Difficulty | medium |
| Usage | Midground, Nano tanks, Foreground, group |
| pH value | 5 - 7 |
| Temperature tolerance | 20 - 30°C |
| Carbonate hardness | 0 - 14°dKH |
| General hardness | 0 - 30°dGH |
| Propagation | Cuttings |
| Can grow emersed? | yes |
| Source | Flowgrow |
| Complete botanical name |
| Microcarpáea mínima (K.D. Koenig ex Retz.) Merr. |
| Family |
| Phrymaceae |
| Genus |
| Microcarpaea |
| Difficulty |
| medium |
| Usage |
| Midground, Nano tanks, Foreground, group |
| pH value |
| 5 - 7 |
| Temperature tolerance |
| 20 - 30°C |
| Carbonate hardness |
| 0 - 14°dKH |
| General hardness |
| 0 - 30°dGH |
| Propagation |
| Cuttings |
| Can grow emersed? |
| yes |
| Source |
| Flowgrow |
General information
| Item no. |
|
| EAN | 4250585206083 |
| Weight | 0,05 kg |
| Shipping weight | 0,10 kg |
Questions and answers about Microcarpaea minima
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Customer reviews
6 Reviews
| 5 Stars(4) |
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| 4 Stars(0) |
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| 3 Stars(1) |
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| 2 Stars(0) |
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| 1 Star(1) |
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As an aquascaper I love Microcarpaea minima. In my tank it sits in the midground and frames the driftwood in the center wonderfully. (read more)
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Wunderbare Pflanze fürs Aquascaping
Als Aquascaper liebe ich Microcarpaea minima.
Bei mir steht sie im Mittelgrund und rahmt wunderbar die Wurzel im Zentrum ein. Die Pflanzen von Aquasabi wurden kerngesund geliefert! Absolute Empfehlung!
A lovely delicate plant, something different compared to the usual ground cover plants. The cup was well filled and I can't understand the partly negative reviews at all. (read more)
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Mal etwas anderes für den Vordergrund!
Eine tolle zarte Pflanze, mal etwas anderes im Vergleich zu den üblichen Bodendeckern. Der Becher war gut gefüllt und die teils negativen Bewertungen kann ich überhaupt nicht nachvollziehen. Sie wächst super, sowohl mit als auch ohne CO2. Eine vernünftige Beleuchtung setzt man eigentlich voraus, aber selbst in dieser Hinsicht ist sie recht unkompliziert. Einige meiner Becken sind ihren Bewohnern zuliebe zum Teil durch Schwimmpflanzen abgeschattet - selbst hier gedeiht sie gut. Auch unterschiedliche Bodengründe von Soil bis Sand stellen kein Problem dar. Düngung in all meinen Becken hauptsächlich Mironekuton und easy life Profito, teilweise CO2 Hund / oder easy Carbo. Schöne frischgrüne Farbe, filigraner aber dichter Wuchs
A beautiful in-vitro plant. The cup was well filled and the plant had already developed nice roots.
Thank you very much, Aquasabi! 👍
Show original
Top In-Vitro Pflanzen.
Eine schöne In-Vitro Pflanze. Der Becher war gut gefüllt und die Pflanze hatte auch schon schöne Wurzeln ausgebildet.
Vielen Dank Aquasabi! 👍
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