Rotala macrandra

Family : Lythraceae

PlantFreshwaterstem plant

A fine-stemmed plant with red or pink leaves, highly valued in aquascaping for its color contrast.

Rotala macrandra — photo 1 sur 4 — Dinesh Valke from Thane, India · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.01 / 4

Popularity

Stem plant

fast growing, needs trimming

Availability

Common in shops

Shop availability

IUCN Status

Least Concern

Biotope

Southeast Asia

Rivières et forêts inondées d'Indonésie, Malaisie, Thaïlande.

Description

Rotala macrandra is a stem plant that can reach 30 to 50 cm in height. Its leaves are opposite, oval to lanceolate, and turn bright red under intense lighting and CO2 supplementation. Growth is fast under optimal conditions. It forms dense clumps if pruned regularly. In the aquarium, it is often used as a background or midground plant. Its color ranges from green to red depending on light intensity and nutrient availability.

Habitat

Region :

Streams and rivers with moderate current, swampy areas

Distribution :

Recommended parameters

Temperature22–28 °C

pH6–7.5

GH2–12 °dGH

KH2–8 °dKH

NO₃

≤ 20 mg/L

PO₄

≤ 1.5 mg/L

CO₂

≤ 30 mg/L

Light

High

Care

Difficulty

4/5

Diet

Photosynthetic

Min. tank

40 L

Min. group

Adult size

50 cm

Lifespan

3 years

Temperament

Peaceful

Propagation

stem cuttings

Care notes

This plant requires strong lighting (at least 1 W/L) and CO2 supplementation of 20-30 mg/L to show its colors. Ideal temperature is between 22 and 28 °C, pH 6.0-7.5, and GH 2-12 °d. A nutrient-rich substrate is recommended, but it can also absorb nutrients from the water column. Nitrates should stay below 20 mg/L and phosphates below 1.5 mg/L. Regular pruning encourages branching. It is compatible with most peaceful fish. A minimum tank volume of 40 L is advised for a small group.

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