African water fern: the dark lace epiphyte
Bolbitis heudelotii
Dark, finely divided fronds anchored to wood — slow and striking.
Where it comes from
Bolbitis heudelotii grows along fast, cool streams and rivers across tropical Africa, gripping rocks and submerged wood with its roots. It is a true epiphyte — it feeds from the water and anchors to surfaces rather than rooting in soil.
What to expect
Its fronds are deep green, finely divided and slightly translucent, giving a lacy, almost feathery look quite unlike the broad leaves of Java fern. Attached to a piece of dark driftwood it makes a striking, natural centrepiece.
How to keep it
Bolbitis is undemanding on light but has two preferences worth respecting: cooler water and good flow, reflecting its river home. It is a slow grower, and while CO2 is not essential it noticeably speeds things up and richens the colour. Never bury the rhizome — attach it to the surface.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Lighting | Low to medium |
| CO2 | Not required; beneficial for speed |
| Temperature | 20–26 °C — prefers cooler water |
| pH | 5.5–7.0 |
| Hardness | Soft to moderate |
| Fertiliser | Water-column feeder |
| Substrate | None — attaches to wood or rock |
| Growth rate | Slow |
| Placement | Attachment, Midground |
| Difficulty | Medium |
How to attach it
Tie or glue the rhizome to wood or rock, leaving it exposed; the roots grip over a few weeks. Propagate by cutting the rhizome into pieces, each with a few fronds. It also occasionally produces daughter plants on its leaves.
What goes wrong
Slow, stalled growth usually means water that is too warm or too still — improve flow and keep it cool. Like other slow epiphytes its long-lived fronds attract black brush algae in bright or unstable tanks; keep CO2 and nutrients steady and it stays clean.
More plants in this series
- Java fern (Leptochilus pteropus) — the broad-leaved epiphyte fern
- Anubias barteri — the tough broad-leaf epiphyte
- Bucephalandra — the slow iridescent epiphyte
- Christmas moss (Vesicularia montagnei) — the fir-tree moss for wood