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Freshwater   Plants

Barclaya
(Barclaya longifolia)

Barclaya

Alternative species (click on the thumbnail to see the card)

  • None

Names

Scientific name
Barclaya longifolia
Hydrostemma longifolium
Barclaya pierreana
Barclaya oblonga

Common name
Barclaya

Origin

what are his countries of origin?

Origin: South East Asia

Ideal fertilization

how to fertilize this plant?

CO2: 5-40mg/l
Nitrates (NO3): 10-50mg/l
Phosphates (PO4): 0,1-3mg/l
Potassium (K): 5-30mg/l
Iron (Fe): 0,01-0,5mg/l

Group

which group is this plant?

Nymphaeaceae (Barclayaceae)

Kind

what is the type of plant?

Rhizome

Parameters

What are the Water parameters for the maintenance of this plant?

T°: 25 to 28°C or 77 to 82°F
pH: 6 to 7
Hardness: 5 to 15°dGH

Difficulty

difficulty

Average

Lighting

what brightness is needed?

Average

Size

what is the maximum size of the plant?

35 cm (14")

Plantation

in which area of the aquarium install this plant?

Middle or background

Growth

how fast does this plant grow?

Average

Presentation

Who is the Barclaya?

Presentation

Who is the Barclaya?

It is usually found in fast-flowing streams in Southeast Asia.

Fragile enough, this plant can not be installed in aquariums containing snails or turbulent fish. Indeed, it is a true paradise for snails! The leaves are tender and appetising. This plant will be among the first attacked by molluscs. Do avoid then!

Planting and maintenance

How to plant and maintain the Barclaya?

Planting and maintenance

How to plant and maintain the Barclaya?

Because of its size, it is best to install it in the background for small aquariums, and possibly on the sides or in the middle for larger aquariums. Note that in order for this plant to flourish fully, it needs space. A 250 liter or 55 Imp Gal or 66 US Gal aquarium is ideal for this!

As for the density of plantation, you can leave on a proportion of 1 foot of Barclaya every 20 cm² or 3 square inch. Install it preferably under medium to strong lighting. The rhizome of this plant needs a thick layer of substrate. Nevertheless, the upper part of the rhizome must remain out of the substrate.

Even if it is not mandatory, a fertilizer input in the substrate from time to time will be a plus.

Farming

How to farm the Barclaya?

Farming

How to farm the Barclaya?

The growth of Barclayas is uneven, alternating phases of outbreaks and phases of rest. Do not be surprised if your plant loses all its leaves: it is resting! Indeed, during the rest phases, the leaves can die and fall. A few weeks later, the plant begins to produce leaves again.

It is one of the rare plants that you can easily farm by sowing seeds. Adult and healthy feet will form floral stems towards the surface. When they reach the surface, the flowers pollinate when they open. Then come seed production: the «swollen» part of the flower thickens to eventually dissolve. You can intervene at this stage: remove the floral peduncle (indeed, if you do not, the seeds will spread in your aquarium). By opening the pod, you will see many seeds covered by a gelatinous white substance. Wash them and sow them in a sandy substrate, in direct light and without too much current. If your aquarium is configured this way, make sure the fish do not dig the soil and sow in a well-lit area. If your aquarium does not have these features, you can plant your seedlings in a small bin separately. As and when, a number of feet will appear. When they are 6/10 cm or 2.3 to 4 inch tall, you can move them gently to their final location.

Good To know

Find all additional information!

Good To know

Find all additional information!

Interestingly, even though this plant belongs to the family of water lilies, it is not at all a floating plant!

You can find a red and a green variety of this plant. Note that the green variety is a little larger than its red binoculars.

Here is the geographical distribution of the different species of Barclaya:

  • Barclaya longifolia: South Asia

  • Barclaya kunstleri: Malaysia

  • Barclaya motleyi: Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia

  • Barclaya rotundifolia: Malaysia

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