Kufeya water

Kufeya aquatic, scientific name Cuphea anagalloidea, belongs to the Lythraceae family. This plant has been known in the aquarium trade for a long time. However, it was previously considered a variety of Rotala, under the name Rotala sp. “Araguaia”. Only in 2010 did the biologist Cavan Allen of the Smithsonian Institution establish that it is an independent species endemic to the Para River basin in Brazil. Closely related species of this plant are exclusively terrestrial, and some of them are successfully cultivated in gardens. Kufeya aquatic is the first of its kind to be used in aquariums.

Grows under water, but the tops of the shoots are usually on the surface. Forms dense thickets of single erect stems with small leaves arranged oppositely. The leaf blades are rounded, 1.5–2 cm in size. In the submerged position, the surface is bright red or with greenish patches. The underside is green. When the stem grows above the surface, the leaves change in the air, the red colors disappear, and the leaf blade lengthens and narrows. In favorable conditions, an arrow and a white flower appear from the base of the petiole.

It is considered a demanding and capricious plant. Optimal growth conditions are in a very narrow range of acceptable temperatures, hydrochemical values ​​and illumination. Also of key importance is a soft, nutrient-rich soil rich in iron, which affects the color of the leaves. An additional introduction of carbon dioxide is required.