Aponogeton madagascariensis

Lore & Background

The plant is an aquatic monocotyledonous perennial with tuberous rhizomes 3 cm in diameter. Its leaves spread horizontally beneath the water surface and are little more than a lattice-like skeletal network of veins with no tissue between. The flowers are produced on an erect, two-pronged spike up to 1 m long, protruding up to 20 cm above the water, with a white bract protecting each flower. There seem to be several forms of this plant in cultivation, some large, some much smaller.

The tuberous roots are edible. It requires water temperatures of 15–26 °C and pH of 5–7.5, growing best in low light outdoors. The substrate should be rich in nutrients. It is a speciality in botanical gardens all over the world. It was once in such high demand that it came close to extinction in its natural habitat in Madagascar.

A. madagascariensis is often regarded as a difficult plant to cultivate. This is due to several factors: it needs bright indoor light to thrive, which encourages the growth of algae on the lattice-like leaves that is difficult to remove; newly imported bulbs grow well in their first year but often fail in their second year, apparently due to a lack of food storage in the bulbs (cause still unknown); seeds may be produced, but often fail to germinate or thrive. Some enthusiasts recommend strong water movement and a high filtration rate for this plant.

Reader's Guide

Aponogeton madagascariensis holds significance as a specialty plant in botanical gardens worldwide and as a popular aquarium species. Its unique lattice-like leaves, consisting only of a skeletal network of veins, make it visually distinctive. The plant's history includes a period of such high demand that it came close to extinction in its natural habitat in Madagascar. Its cultivation is regarded as difficult due to several challenges: bright indoor light needed for growth encourages algae on the leaves that is hard to remove; newly imported bulbs often fail in their second year from unknown causes; and seeds frequently fail to germinate or thrive. The plant's tuberous roots are edible. It requires water temperatures of 15–26 °C, pH of 5–7.5, a nutrient-rich substrate, and grows best in low light outdoors. Some enthusiasts recommend strong water movement and high filtration. Several forms exist in cultivation, varying in size.