Monosolenium Tenerum "Pellia Moss"

Characteristics of Monosolenium Tenerum "Pellia Moss"

Monosoleniumtenerum is a beautiful dark green liverwort that originates from warm temperate to subtropical areas of northern India, Nepal, eastern Asia, and Hawaii. There it is found in moist, shady soil rich in nitrogen. It is quite rare in the wild, but can be found more often in settlements. This plant made its debut as an aquarium moss in 2002, when it became known in the hobby, at first under the misnomer of Pellia Endiviifolia.

This species of liverwort is easily propagated by just breaking off a few pieces. Its submerged form does not adhere to surfaces and can become a veritable pest when grown loose. Therefore, it is better to tie it to rocks with a nylon thread or hook it between other aquatic plants. At first it doesn't look very good when tied to a rock, but after a short time it turns into an attractive lock that is easily kept in shape by pruning. To do this, it is best to remove the stone from the tank, if possible. If you do trim inside the aquarium, be sure to pick up any loose bits.

In a shrimp farm you want to make sure there are no shrimp in the cut tufts, shrimp often sit on the pieces of monosolenium.

If the monosolenium attached to a rock grows too large, the lowest and oldest parts may die and the cushion becomes dislodged from its support.

The emerged form of Monosoleniumtenerum grows excellently on moist substrates. The emerged stems grow flat and become broader than those of the submerged form. It is suitable, for example, for humid terrariums, next to dripping water, waterfalls, etc.

M. tenerum can be used in highly variable ways in the aquarium and is especially suitable for the foreground and medium. Its dark green tone forms a nice contrast with foreground plants of lighter colors Eleocharis Parvula y Glossostigma elatinoides. It also looks good if several pieces of monosolenium of different sizes scattered among the plants that form meadows. As an alternative, Monosoleniumtenerum can be used as a foreground groundcover.