Vallisneria spiralis is a popular aquatic plant commonly used in freshwater aquariums and natural aquatic landscapes. Here are the key details:
Scientific Classification
Family: Hydrocharitaceae
Common Names: Straight Vallisneria, Tape Grass, Italian Vallis
Type: Submerged aquatic plant
Charisteristic
Leaves: Long, ribbon-like, and spiral-twisted (hence the name spiralis)
Color: Usually bright to dark green
Height: Can grow up to 30–100 cm, depending on light and nutrients
Growth Form: Rosette; spreads through runners, forming dense colonies
Habitat & Cultivation
Origin: Southern Europe, North Africa, and Asia
Water Conditions:
pH: 6.0–8.5
Temperature: 20–30°C (68–86°F)
Hardness: Tolerates a range
Light Needs: Moderate to high
Substrate: Grows best in nutrient-rich substrates
Aquarium Use
Great for: Background planting in aquascapes
Benefits:
Provides shelter for fish and fry
Helps reduce algae by absorbing nutrients
Oxygenates the water
Reproduction
Propagates via runners—new plants develop at intervals along a creeping stem
Rarely flowers in aquariums but may in natural or outdoor settings