2010 FAAS Publication Awards | Please follow Reprint Policy Clear Changing Fields Print Form FAAS Publication Awards Form

Author Christel Kasselmann

Society (NO Abbreviations) Aquatic Gardeners Association, Inc.

Age Category 24. Best Traveling Aquarist Article Choose . . . (Junior Only)

Date of Publication November 2010

Title of Publication (NO Abbreviations) The Aquatic Gardener

Madagascar: The El Dorado for Aquatic Gardeners Title of Article

Enter your official Original articles that appear in The Aquatic Gardener (TAG) may be reproduced in print (paper) media by non-commercial organizations (unless specifically Reprint Policy reprint policy for your stated otherwise) provided that proper credit is given to the author and to The publication. Aquatic Gardener, and that at least one copy of the publication containing the reprinted material is sent to TAG's editor at the time of publication. Credit to TAG asWhere the shouldoriginal we source send award must certificates? appear at the endAddress of the per article,your Reprint as follows: Policy above:

"Reprinted with permission from The Aquatic Gardener, the Journal of the Address Information Aquatic Gardeners Association. Any person interested in the Aquatic Gardeners Award certificates should all go to the same address. Association is invited to apply to AGA Membership, PO Box 51536, Denton TX 76206 USA"

Any other republication or duplication of the original articles or graphics must first OK to type in your Signature receive permission from TAG's editor or the article author. signature & initials.

In this area I saw many stretches Madagascar of temporary standing water in which The El Dorado for Aquatic Gardeners blooming Nymphaea capensis grew Christel Kasselmann. Translated by Kirsten Klinghammer. Photos by the author. densely. At the edges of these ponds in the swamps, one finds many plants that visitors to botanical gardens know as Mimosas: Neptunia oleracea with its yellow inflorescences, andMimosa The fourth largest island on earth topography and accompanying climatic pudica with its pale violet ones. Both contains many interesting water and zones have contributed strongly to varieties belong to the legume family marsh plants beyond the genus Apon- its rich species development. It’s no (Leguminosae). When touched, their ogeton. Most are endemic, and merely wonder, therefore, that an abundance Deep violet blooms of the Madagascar compound leaves close together for sev- await discovery by the aquarium trade. of aquatic and marsh plants are also Water Lily. eral minutes, a unique mechanism by Since Madagascar split from Gond- only distributed here. Some of these which they defend themselves against wanaland 150 million years ago and are familiar to aquarists, while others When one drives further east herbivorous enemies. The genus Ae- from the African continent 90 million wait to be introduced and tested in the toward Kirindy, after 16 kilometers schynomene is also a legume, and the years ago, it has come to be the land aquarium. In the following article, I the asphalt road ends, and one begins floating Aeschynomene fluitans was in- with the highest occurrence of endemic would like to highlight certain species I to see characteristic plants of the dry troduced within recent years. Together species in the world. For this reason, have discovered in my travels through- woodland, such as the baobab. Of the with these mimosas, one occasionally the island has been placed under out Madagascar. eight baobabs (genus Adansonia) found finds water clovers, Marsilea ssp. Some special international protection. Due on Madagascar, seven are endemic. of these form leaves that extend to to the uncounted numbers of animals These imposing giant trees can reach The Western Region near float at the water surface. Five species and plants found only on Madagascar, 1000 years in age and 20 meters in of Marsilea are found in Madagascar, scientists refer to it as being its own Morondava height, and store a tremendous amount although I can’t say whether they may “microcontinent.” The land’s varied The first flowers to strike a traveler’s of water. A section of the road to eye are the lovely blooms of Nymphaea Kirindy is famously known as Baobab all be of interest to the aquarium trade. capensis var. madagascariensis. This water Alley, for the Adansonia grandidieri that In the ponds around the city of lily is distributed throughout the entire line it. Morondawa, I met an impressive island, and is found in particularly beautiful groupings east of the coastal city of Morondava. Nymphaea lotus is apparently also found in Western Madagascar. Nymphaea capensis has colonized large regions of the African continent, while the variety madagas- cariensis occurs only in Madagascar. This variety is easily recognized due to its eye-catching deep violet flowers; however, I’ve also seen madagascariensis flowers ranging in color from white to pink, up through that deep violet. Biotopes of blooming water lilies make an unforgettable sight. I found the most beautiful groupings of these in Western Madagascar about 20 kilometers east of Morondava, where they occur with Eichhornia crassipes. Originally from South America, this water hyacinth has Magnificent grouping of Nymphaea capen- spread quickly due to its tendency of sis var. madagascariensis with impressive aggressive growth, and is choking out baobab trees. native flora. The rare Limnophyton obtusifolium.

32 The Aquatic Gardener Volume 23 Number 4 33 distributed through the dry forest of successfully for me in my aquarium for Kirindy, which also contains a wealth two years. I was unsuccessful in propa- of interesting epiphytes, orchids and gating it through spores, so someone ferns. Nymphoides thunbergiana is im- will need to collect this species again. mediately noticeable due to its yellow, The endemic water plant Lagarosi- shaggily hairy crown. This Nymphoides phon madagascariensis is of great value colonizes temporary bodies of water, to the aquarium hobby, as it may be and occurs with the other species cultivated as an aquarium plant. I often mentioned. Water and swamp plants saw it growing with other aquatic and from such biotopes endure the dry marsh plants in ponds in eastern Mo- The Alismatacea family includes Sagittaria guayanensis (left) and Caldesia parnassiifolia season through seeds or underground rondava, however it also occurs in large (right). storage organs. Only with the return of single-species stands in certain tem- the rainy season does new life develop. porary bodies of water. Although this water plaintain (family Alismataceae), lowed through only a few hours of sun Two further Nymphoides await discov- graceful and easy care species grows Limnophyton obtusifolium, which is also each day. Salivinias belong to a group ery by the aquarium trade: Nymphoides rapidly, it is unsuited to the aquarium distributed across broad regions of of floating plants with extreme light bosseri with its white flowers and N. trade. Like many other true aquatic tropical Africa. Many species from this requirements, and typically degener- elegans with its yellow blooms. plants which are not found in the trade, family within the genera Echinodorus ate quickly and become stunted in the Of the three Isoetes species native to these plants can’t be propagated as land and Alisma are familiar to aquarists. aquarium. Salvinia hastata is an excep- Madagascar, I found the aquatic Isoetes plants. This makes them unacceptable, Other alismatacians from Madagascar tion in this respect, and therefore the welwitschii to be of interest to aquarists. and it’s quite unfortunate. For anyone are Wiesneria filifolia, Sagittaria guayan- importation of this interesting species It grew in small but dense groupings with an interest in L. madagascareniensis, ensis and Caldesia parnassifolia, which all would be desirable. in a wet location near Kirindy, partially I would be happy to be of assistance. live in or near water. Wiesneria filifolia Nymphoides thunbergiana, also above and partially below the water. is of interest to aquarists, although it known as Nymphoides indica in “Flora Unfortunately I only brought one sam- is little known to science, as it is a true of Madagascar and the Comoros,” is ple home with me, yet that one grew aquatic plant with narrow ribbon-like leaves—similar to Valisneria. Two species from the families Sal- viniaceae and Azollaceae are distrib- uted within Madagascar, Azolla pinnata and the previously unknown floating fern, Salvinia hastata, which is endemic to the island. This latter is recogniz- able by its comparatively large, long Lagarosiphon madagascariensis is a decora- leaves that grow densely and lie flat on tive, easily cultivated aquarium plant. the water surface. I found this float- However, it remains rarely grown. ing fern in temporary ponds shaded surrounded by vegetation, which al- The South Around Fort Dauphin The south of Madagascar is charac- terized by its extreme paucity of precip- itation. Unsurprisingly, the vegetation consists of savannah and thorny plants. Several meter high Didier acacias, eu- phorbias, pachypodes, and many aloe Nymphoides thunbergiana in Kirindy forms varieties are noticeable; for botanists a remarkable biotope with other water Isoetes welwitschii growing here both this provides a highly interesting study Salvinia hastata is not yet familiar to us. plants. emersed and submersed. area. Even in this arid region with its

34 The Aquatic Gardener Volume 23 Number 4 35 limited precipitation, one finds moist areas. In these are found the endemic pitcher plant, Nepenthese madagascar- iensis, whose red or yellow pitchers capture insects that nourish the plants. Also in Madagascar, yet in the east, the pitchers of the endemic Nepenthes masoalensis show a different form. Another aquatic and marsh plant of interest to the aquarium trade that I col- lected over 20 years ago, Bacopa mada- gascariensis, is occasionally cultivated in the aquarium. This Bacopa grows in marshy areas, but is only common in the south. I also found this plant grow- ing in eastern Madagascar in the same habitat as the Madagascar Lace Plant, Aponogeton madagascariensis. The rare Aponogeton capuronii occurs in limited areas in the south, and has never been successfully cultured in the aquarium. Blyxa aubertii grows in southern Blyxa aubertii has colonized this temporary pool of standing water by Fort Dauphin. The pitcher plant Nepenthes madagascar- Madagascar and is occasionally grown in the aquarium. The first time I found iensis near Fort Dauphin. this plant, it was hidden under a layer times I also encountered Potamogetons, of iron-bearing sediment so thick I to which I paid little attention. Of could barely recognize it as a plant. these true aquatic plants in the family Today I know that this plant grows not Potamogetonaceae, seven species of the only in still waters, but also in beautiful genus Potamogeton are found in Mada- groupings in flowing waters. One also gascar alone. None of these species finds this adaptable plant in temporary have yet been tested for their suitability waters. In these locations, the plants to the aquarium. die off in the dry season, leaving their In this region is also found the only seeds in the ground. species of the monotypical genus Schol- leropsis of the family Pontederiaceae, The North Around Diego Scholleropsis lutea. This species may also Suarez be of interest to aquarists. Northern Madagascar is character- ized by high mountain chains, so one The Central Highlands to the finds flowing waters and few instances East Coast of still water. This region offers a Rice farming is practiced in the warm microclimate with a short rainy areas surrounding the national capi- season and a very long dry season. The tal of Antananarivo. In addition to interesting aponogetons Aponogeton Aponogeton ulvaceus, one also finds boivinianus and A. Gottlebei are found the lovely water plant Ottelia ulvifolia here. Aponogeton longiplumulosus is also in these rice fields. In these locations, distributed here. It doesn’t require a these fragile plants go through the distinct rest period in the aquarium, same life stages as Aponogeton ulva- Left: Bacopa madagascariensis grows as a marsh plant in southern Madagascar. Right: It although I have not yet been able to ceus. Dry and rainy seasons alternate, is a good aquarium plant. examine its natural habitat. Several and the habitats dry out completely in

36 The Aquatic Gardener Volume 23 Number 4 37 the dry season. Ottelia ulvifolia therefore must be ready when the torrential rains arrive to quickly grow new plants from small seeds, which must then bloom and bear fruit within just a few weeks to ensure continuation to the next gen- eration. These plants derive their nour- ishment from the clay soil, as the soft waters are nutrient poor. In the same family of Hydrocharitaceae are found plant genera more familiar to aquarists, Hydrotriche hottoniiflora, here in a river such as Ottelia and Lagarosiphon, yet in Perinet, is occasionally grown in the also the unfamiliar Appertiella hexandra, aquarium. an uncommon species that has yet to be cultivated. If one drives out of the capital city of “Tana” and leaves the highlands in an easterly direction to the coast, one will see numerous rivers transport- ing water from an altitude of 700 to 1500 meters with tremendous rapidity down to the coast. These rivers have Not yet successfully cultivated: Apon- This Ottelia ulvifolia with grass-green leaves very clear, soft water. At about the ogeton bernierianus. grew in a rice field near the capital city of halfway point, one will want to visit Tana, along with Aponogeton ulvaceus. the national park by Andasibé. The largest lemur species in Madagascar, the Indri, lives here, along with many flower color. Aquarists have only been endemic species of frogs. In a river familiar with these as white flowers close to the nature reserve, I also found with yellow throats, but in some ponds Ottelia ulvifolia, however its form was on Madagascar I found them in an distinctly different from that found in amazingly variety of colors, including the highlands, having young leaves of flowers of light blue, pink, and vio- beautiful reddish color. The water in let, with a yellow throat. This species these rivers in Perinet is soft, and the displays a surprising polychromatism, water temperature ranges—depending which I’m not aware of in any other on the time of year—between 17 and aquatic plant. To this day, this grace- Hydrotriche hottoniiflora in an aquarium. 22 °C. Along with the rare Aponogeton ful and attractive Hydrotriche is rarely bernierianus, which has yet to be suc- seen in aquariums, probably because cessfully cultivated, one also finds it can’t be propagated in nurseries as Hydrotriche hottoniiflora in these rapidly a land plant. Incidentally, there are flowing waters. This true aquatic plant three further Hydrotriche species with possesses amazing adaptability to its whorled leaves endemic to Madagas- natural surroundings, being found both car that have been described, the true in high-temperature stagnant waters of aquatic plant H. galiifolia, H. mayacoides, temporary ponds as well as at low tem- an amphibious species with linearly- peratures in permanently fast-flowing aligned leaves, and H. bryoides with waters. Because of their different flower needle-shaped, very short leaves. colors, the variety flava was described If one drives further in the direc- Note the different flower colors in Hy- In contrast, these red-leaved Ottelia ulvifo- as having a pure yellow corolla, and the tion of the East Coast, one finds many drotriche hottoniiflora that can occur in the lia came from Perinet. variety hottoniiflora as having variable species of the families Hydrostachy- same biotope.

38 The Aquatic Gardener aceae and Podostemaceae in swiftly Aponogeton madagascariensis. Like many Furthermore, several species of the flowing waters. These aquatic plants regions of Madagascar, the East Coast genus Ludwigia are found in Madagas- are adapted to oxygen-rich fast- is only accessible through the coastal car, as are many species of the family flowing waters, and have not yet been city of Tamatave, while vast regions are Cyperaceae—the genus Cyperus alone successfully kept in aquariums. There only accessible by boat, if at all. Some has 76 species on this island. Of the are some exceptionally beautiful and plants, such as Nymphaea minuta, Myrio- family Eriocaulaceae, which has only impressive aquatic plants, such as Hy- phyllum mezianum, and Utricularia aurea, in recent years been in the attention drostachys plumosa, which are actually I introduced as new aquarium plants of the hobby, four known genera are able to bloom and to fruit in raging through DATZ [Die Aquarien- und found in Madagascar—the genus rapids. The Flora of Madagascar (1952) Terrarienzeitschrift, e.g. Aquaria and Eriocaulon alone with 19 species. Najas lists only 17 species of Hydrostachys, Terraria Magazine]. madagascariensis was previously in all exclusively rheophytes [lives in Madagascar is an El Dorado for culture but was lost, and is waiting to fast moving water], many of which aquarists interested in aquatic and be reintroduced. are endemic to Madagascar. These marsh plants, and I am sure that many I’m sure I’ve forgotten some genera rheophytes are not related to the more gems will be introduced to the in this description. We may therefore Podostemaceae, although they may be aquarium trade. Of the family Lyth- await with anticipation to see what found in similar biotopes. raceae, there are many Rotala, Nesaea, the future holds for us in interesting Along the stretch from the high- and Ammannia species in Madagascar, aquatic and marsh plants from the lands to the East Coast, one often while Myriophyllum axilliflorum could island of Madagascar. happens upon Madagascar Lace Plants, be of interest to aquarists as well. References Humbert, H. (1952–): Flore de Mada- With luck, one can occasionally observe a gascar et des Comores. [Flora of Madagas- lemur. car and the Comoros]

AGA is on Facebook! Join us!

www.facebook.com/group. php?gid=73549534693 The Podostemaceae Hydrostachys plumosa growing in river rapids. It is a bizarre water plant, adapted to life in strong currents. Unfortunately, for this reason, it can’t be or just search for “AGA.” Be sure to successfully kept in an aquarium. post a picture of your tank! 40 The Aquatic Gardener Volume 23 Number 4 41