PISTIA STRATIOTES

Common Name: Water Lettuce

Water Lettuce is a well recognized floating plant that is frequently used in ponds as well as aquariums. It is popular among shrimp keepers as well since the long roots drape into the aquarium and provide plenty of coverage and bio film to the shrimp. Its also a fast growing plant that can absorb nitrates making it suitable for tanks with inhabitants that are sensitive to water parameters.  

The leaves are soft with a velvet texture and the plant bears resemblance to open heads of lettuce.  It can be propagated by forming at the end of stolons which extend outward from the mother plant. Water lettuce can block out light from plants below so only keep low light requirement plants in the same tank. It also inhibits algae growth to help maintain a clear aquarium.