Limnophila sessiliflora
Limnophila from Greek limne (lake, marsh) + philos (loving), meaning 'marsh-loving.' sessiliflora from Latin sessilis (sitting, stalkless) + flora (flower), referring to the sessile flowers attached directly to the stem without stalks.
Asian Ambulia
Plantaginaceae
Distinguishing Features
- Finely divided, feathery whorled leaves — 5–12 leaves per whorl , each deeply pinnately dissected into thread-like segments
- Submersed leaves create a dense, bushy appearance resembling a bottle brush or fox tail
- Emersed leaves (above water) are simpler, narrower, and less divided — less ornamental
- Stems green to reddish under high light, erect, 30–50 cm tall in aquaria
- Small lilac to pale blue flowers on emersed portions (rarely seen in aquaria)
- Fast-growing stem plant; readily branches when topped
Habitat
Shallow freshwater: rice paddies, ditches, ponds, marshes, and slow streams. Grows both submersed and emersed.
Notes
One of the most popular background stem plants in planted aquaria due to its feathery texture and easy care. Often confused with Cabomba but distinguished by whorled leaf arrangement and membership in Plantaginaceae rather than Cabombaceae. Considered invasive in parts of the southern United States. Thrives in moderate to high light with CO2 supplementation but will grow in low-tech setups.