Blixa alternifolia

Blixa alternifolia, scientific name Blyxa japonica var. Alternifolia, is a species of Japanese Blixa, but unlike the latter, is less popular in the aquarium trade. It comes from Southeast Asia (Malacca Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo), where it grows in stagnant wetlands and rice fields.

The plant has long, narrow leaves light green to dark red colors. Arranged alternately on a long stem, the closer to the top, the smaller the distance between the leaves and at the very top they form a thick “corolla”.

Capricious and demanding plant. Blixa Alternifolia prefers soft, nutrient-rich substrates and high light levels. Water conditions are typical of swamp ecosystems – acidic or slightly acidic water with low carbonate hardness. Thus, the comfortable range of growing conditions for this species has rather narrow limits, with the exception of temperature, which can vary widely. However, all changes should occur smoothly, not abruptly. The plant propagates by spindle-shaped seeds from flowers formed from an arrow above the surface of the water, or by lateral shoots.