Popular Post Daniel Posted October 18, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted October 18, 2020 It is often surprising to realize just how many of our aquarium plants are native to the United States and especially the Southeastern US. One of those exotic looking yet home grown plants is the lovely banana plant, Nymphoides aquatica. Found from New Jersey to Florida in ditches, still waters, and ponds it is one of my all time favorites. My first task was to locate where it could be found in North Carolina. I used my Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas to narrow the search down to specific counties. Craven County had a dot, and so was added to my itinerary for my aquatic plant collecting road trip. I thought surely I could not mistake banana plants for anything else, but you can never be too careful, so I brought my trusty, Godfrey and Wooten, Aquatic Plants of the Southeastern United States just to be sure. After several productive but non banana plant ditches I hit upon this site. Shazaam! Banana plants galore! Checking my Godfrey and Wooten for confirmation against what I was collecting I was sure I had success! Even a few baby banana plants. The eternal question always is: What do plants want? Knowing where and how they grow natively in the wild would go a long way towards answering this question, so I was determined to make observations and take measurements. Here was the temperature This is the water chemistry No nitrates, no GH, no KH and a very low pH. Surprisingly there seems to be a bit chlorine, but whatever the source, I guarantee it did not come from a water treatment plant as I was in a very remote unspoiled location. The substrate was 3 inches of mulm, over a couple inches of mud, over a sandy bottom. Most plants were firmly rooted all the way into the sand in about 1 to 3 feet of water. Some plants had lily pads nearly the size of my hand. Smaller plants on runners or nearer shore had more bananas. Some plants were flowering with delicate white flowers floating just above the surface of the water. I collected a handful of plants and headed quickly home to the 1930s Historically Accurate Planted Aquarium as these would be a very authentic addition! 22 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben_RF Posted October 18, 2020 Share Posted October 18, 2020 🙂 I am just in the next county over, Carteret, and you just gave me something to look for on my nature walks with my niece 🙂 Thank you! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted October 18, 2020 Author Share Posted October 18, 2020 @Ben_RF Yes, Carteret has a dot on the map! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alesha Posted October 18, 2020 Share Posted October 18, 2020 Very interesting find! I had no idea they flowered... so pretty! And those water parameters were completely unexpected. Thanks for sharing with us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aubrey Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 Jealous! I just paid the Co-Op $4.99 for that plant last week. I did a quick search of that book and saw that it included Arkansas. I might have to look into buying a copy. Are you going to do anything in regards to quarantining or cleaning the plant before introducing it into your tank, or would the occurrence of any hitchhikers be a welcomed part of the historically accurate study? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted October 19, 2020 Author Share Posted October 19, 2020 I am not much of a quarantiner with plants which means I often get hitchhikers. I get a few dragonfly larva sometimes and snails too. Generally I am as interested in all the little surprises as I am in the intended items. It is all biology to me. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Scott Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 Such an outstanding post!!! I'm in NJ, so I need to go banana plant hunting!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garren Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 Wow. Great post. I see my county in south Carolina has a dot in it. May have to do some exploring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 Ironically, those are almost exactly my my water parameters at the tap. I may need to invest in a few banana plants, lol. Not being anywhere near the US SE, I will probably rely on ACO for my source! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KBOzzie59 Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 Super Duper Outstanding Post @Daniel!!! Nerd Level: Expert 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted October 29, 2020 Share Posted October 29, 2020 Dots in Brunswick County. They’re growing in the canals in my community. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben_RF Posted October 29, 2020 Share Posted October 29, 2020 I meant to come back to this thread earlier. @Daniel, thank you, I was able to find them growing in the waters behind my sister's place. I did not harvest anything, as I don't know what the laws are for this in our state. Plus I kind of don't have a spot for any at the moment. But you did give me a fun adventure to go on with my niece, so thank you! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casual aquatics Posted October 29, 2020 Share Posted October 29, 2020 Wish there was some cool native plants in Indiana waters that was aquarium safe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted October 30, 2020 Author Share Posted October 30, 2020 37 minutes ago, Wisnasky-tank said: Wish there was some cool native plants in Indiana waters that was aquarium safe I bet there are cool native plants in Indiana waters. I’ll do some research and let you know if I find anything. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Streetwise Posted October 30, 2020 Share Posted October 30, 2020 (edited) These were some plants and creatures I found on the shores of Lake Champlain a couple of weeks ago. Some are not native. Edited October 30, 2020 by Streetwise 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casual aquatics Posted October 30, 2020 Share Posted October 30, 2020 That be neat might get me hunting local lakes etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtomCatMatt Posted October 30, 2020 Share Posted October 30, 2020 1 hour ago, Daniel said: I bet there are cool native plants in Indiana waters. I’ll do some research and let you know if I find anything. I would be excited to hear about any literature you come up with on the subject. I live in southern Indiana by Ohio river.@Wisnasky-tank what part you from? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casual aquatics Posted October 30, 2020 Share Posted October 30, 2020 Just now, AtomCatMatt 1 hour ago, Daniel said: I bet there are cool native plants in Indiana waters. I’ll do some research and let you know if I find anything. I would be excited to hear about any literature you come up with on the subject. I live in southern Indiana by Ohio river.@Wisnasky-tank what part you from? We must not be far apart I can spit into Ohio from where I’m at Richmond Indiana Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Streetwise Posted October 30, 2020 Share Posted October 30, 2020 If you can't wade in too deep, look at the wind patterns, and there will be a shore that collects plants. Let us know what you find! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtomCatMatt Posted October 30, 2020 Share Posted October 30, 2020 11 minutes ago, Wisnasky-tank said: We must not be far apart I can spit into Ohio from where I’m at Richmond Indiana Jeffersonville. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casual aquatics Posted October 30, 2020 Share Posted October 30, 2020 Just now, AtomCatMatt 11 minutes ago, Wisnasky-tank said: We must not be far apart I can spit into Ohio from where I’m at Richmond Indiana Jeffersonville. Not too far you should join my Fb group Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alec2cool Posted October 30, 2020 Share Posted October 30, 2020 (edited) 3 hours ago, Wisnasky-tank said: Wish there was some cool native plants in Indiana waters that was aquarium safe I live around Anderson, Indiana. There is a mass of hornwort in the nearby creek every year! Though I have never put it in my own aquariums since I already have a butt-ton that I throw away every few weeks. It sure explodes in growth if you let it Edited October 30, 2020 by Alec2cool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casual aquatics Posted October 30, 2020 Share Posted October 30, 2020 Just now, Alec2cool said: I live around Anderson, Indiana. There is a mass of hornwort in the nearby creek every year! Anderson isn’t far from he at all guess truth is I’m not sure what all is what like to look and see know hornwort that thin spider looking plant though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casual aquatics Posted October 30, 2020 Share Posted October 30, 2020 1 hour ago, Streetwise said: If you can't wade in too deep, look at the wind patterns, and there will be a shore that collects plants. Let us know what you find! Your saying the pattern of wind will determine where to find plants Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Posted October 30, 2020 Share Posted October 30, 2020 I just assume where ever there are banana plants, there are gators! 🤣 Another cool thread, @Daniel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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