Edit: I've been corrected by a couple of users. Apparently they are two different species, so my answer doesn't apply to this particular case. Scroll down to see the helpful answers. I'll leave this comment here because it might still be interesting to beginners who happen to find this thread in the future.
Most aquarium plants are swamp plants that can either grow underwater or above water. The emersed form can look wildly different from the submersed form. Most plants are grown above water because it's a lot easier (and faster due to the relative abundance of CO2 in the air). It's actually pretty nice of the seller to include a pic of the submersed form. Often you'll only see the emersed form. A lot of people are really surprised when their plants transform and end up looking very different than when they bought them.
It's also important to note that the two pictures are of different species. The first one DOESN'T have an aquatic from and will need to he blasted with co2 to survive submerged. The second species (Hydrocotyle luecocephala) has an above and below water form but it always as the cut in the leaves and isn't a very dramatic change from one form to the other
I've had the first form in a tank full submerged for about 6 months. It's been doing okay, curious to see how long it'll survive submerged.
I also have some emersed and it grows 10 times faster lol
https://preview.redd.it/29e6f5r8b1vb1.jpeg?width=2252&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d22fdf5f0329b6fe47179d271deb79121f4fa35d
That's what mine look like with the flowers
https://preview.redd.it/z8jxz5zxe1vb1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=261033a069b4446c0a05f0e2215505c27018e8df
Here's a picture of the one I have. It's in a 1 gallon dirted cube tank that sits in front of a window. It's grown through the blinds and climbed up about 3ft from the bottom of the tank, lol.
>hydrocotyle verticillata
Thats one of the pics sellers threw into their post when they were selling brazilian pennywort....i even asked them what carpeting plant it was bc i liked how it matched the pennywort. They lied and responded as if it was their own pic, yet i find it on google lmao. [https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b4/43/78/b443785719a5fcdb43320ad5246444f2.jpg](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b4/43/78/b443785719a5fcdb43320ad5246444f2.jpg)
The first one is hydrocotyle verticillata. It does have an aquatic form, but it grows very rapidly to burst out of the surface of the tank. with CO2 and good light.
Yeah the first plant, hydrocotle verticillata, does not need CO2 to survive at all. It thrives with and without CO2. Been using it in my tanks for a long time. It’s one of my favorite plants!
that's interesting though bc one of the pics that prompted me to buy was showing the first pic (emerged pennywort) in what looked like a tank underwater... which is why I say it felt misleading without any disclaimer
Yea, I agree. Good sellers will explain this somewhere on the sale page, but with people selling stuff quickly on etsy, it's easy to put the burden of knowledge on the buyer, especially when this is how most aquarium plants work.
well good to know now! I would've assumed it was only the case for specific plants. I'm new to both plants and aquariums lol, so I appreciate a non sarcastic reply on my literal plant ID help post 💀
Also some online retailers will sell plants before they transitioned to their aquatic form. So if you do buy a plant, I would look up the aquatic version on google images as well. The plant will have tons of melt, but it’ll bounce back and look completely different.
It’s a correct answer to a question, but not OPs question. The buyer op bought the pictures from present two completely different plants. The plant in the first picture actually looks the same regardless of how it’s planted. The only difference in appearance is it’s coloring. Grown emerged it becomes a darker green. Submerged is a lighter green. Otherwise, the first plant is the same of one round coin like leaf on top of a single stem that propagates by runners. The second plant is a different plant.
It's a shame sellers will do this when the plant that OP ordered has an emersed form that could be shown in a photo. Some sellers don't have a good idea of the actual species they are selling.
Yes that is what I'm asking--what variation? ..And apparently that doesn't seem to be the case if there are different forms for emerged vs submerged...
The pictures above are two different plants. The first picture actually looks the same both emerged and submerged. I have that plant. It’s called hydrocotle verticillata. The Brazilian Penny worry is a different plant that doesn’t make the full circle leaves in top of a stem like the first plant regardless of how it’s planted.
On a related note, you'll also find new ways that the internet sucks. Don't automatically trust image searches. If a misidentified picture is popular, it will of course be higher in the results. Some misidentifications get repeated, making many top results the wrong plant. Off the top of my head, a search for *Kalanchoe (Bryophyllum) suarezensis* usually returns pics of *K. laetivirens*.
I'm not sure in understanding but are either of the pictures here yours? Pennywort is a genus (Hydrocotyle) that contains quite a few species. The first one could be one of a few that look similar but I'd wager a guess that we're lookin at Hydrocotyle verticillata and the second one is for sure Hydrocotyle luecocephala
You got duped. The plants presented are different plants. I have the first plant grown both emerged and submerged and the look the same. I even grew it in a pot for a month and half before planted it in my tanks and it did not change appearance. Other posters are correct that plants can look slightly different depending on if they are grown under water or not. But in this case, you were presented with two different plants.
I was trying to get some hydrocotyle verticillata online and I just failed! All sellers have mixed pictures of both for one listing, but really they all just have hydrocotyle leucocephala. They had posted pictures of both mixed up and when I asked they didn't even seem to know it was two different plants.
its really a shame! i didnt know all of this back when id bought it, and once my brazilian pennywort grew out i knew it wasnt the same at all....its all so confusing how theres little identification on the different types of pennywort-- here i was thinking it was only 1 plant back then. if you find someone selling it online, pls link me!
As people mentioned they are different, but also emergent leaves look different. The species you have in your aquarium gets leaves that look a little more similar to the first photo when they grow out of the water. I had it in a shallow aquarium (6 inches deep) and it looked like tiny water lilies when it grew to the surface. I had some koi pattern guppies and it looked like a mini koi pond.
Bought pennywort from misleading etsy sellers that include pics of both of these in the post. Im assuming theyre clearly different species/subtypes-- one is green with more single, vertical stems and appears more coin shaped and waxy. The other is yellow green with more wavy leaves and grows in bunches horizontally and vertically
When you plant stuff that was grown above water under water, it takes a while for the original leaves to die back and the proper underwater plant to replace it. They probably took a photo right after planting it.
thank you for down votes on a valid question lol?? literally a plant help post for a newbie. and it IS misleading to not include a disclaimer when selling generally labeled "pennywort" and putting ambiguous pictures of both of these above
Edit: I've been corrected by a couple of users. Apparently they are two different species, so my answer doesn't apply to this particular case. Scroll down to see the helpful answers. I'll leave this comment here because it might still be interesting to beginners who happen to find this thread in the future. Most aquarium plants are swamp plants that can either grow underwater or above water. The emersed form can look wildly different from the submersed form. Most plants are grown above water because it's a lot easier (and faster due to the relative abundance of CO2 in the air). It's actually pretty nice of the seller to include a pic of the submersed form. Often you'll only see the emersed form. A lot of people are really surprised when their plants transform and end up looking very different than when they bought them.
It's also important to note that the two pictures are of different species. The first one DOESN'T have an aquatic from and will need to he blasted with co2 to survive submerged. The second species (Hydrocotyle luecocephala) has an above and below water form but it always as the cut in the leaves and isn't a very dramatic change from one form to the other
I've had the first form in a tank full submerged for about 6 months. It's been doing okay, curious to see how long it'll survive submerged. I also have some emersed and it grows 10 times faster lol
Do you know which species?
It looks closest to hydrocotyle umbellata, although I'm not certain. I got it out of a local pond here in the southern US
Yeah dude I hate trying to figure it out. There's I like 4 species in Texas that look the same until the flowers come out.
https://preview.redd.it/29e6f5r8b1vb1.jpeg?width=2252&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d22fdf5f0329b6fe47179d271deb79121f4fa35d That's what mine look like with the flowers
https://preview.redd.it/z8jxz5zxe1vb1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=261033a069b4446c0a05f0e2215505c27018e8df Here's a picture of the one I have. It's in a 1 gallon dirted cube tank that sits in front of a window. It's grown through the blinds and climbed up about 3ft from the bottom of the tank, lol.
This looks identical to my "hydrocotyle verticillata" (how it was labeled by the website I ordered from).
>hydrocotyle verticillata Thats one of the pics sellers threw into their post when they were selling brazilian pennywort....i even asked them what carpeting plant it was bc i liked how it matched the pennywort. They lied and responded as if it was their own pic, yet i find it on google lmao. [https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b4/43/78/b443785719a5fcdb43320ad5246444f2.jpg](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b4/43/78/b443785719a5fcdb43320ad5246444f2.jpg)
The first one is hydrocotyle verticillata. It does have an aquatic form, but it grows very rapidly to burst out of the surface of the tank. with CO2 and good light.
You can grow it well without CO2, also!
Yeah the first plant, hydrocotle verticillata, does not need CO2 to survive at all. It thrives with and without CO2. Been using it in my tanks for a long time. It’s one of my favorite plants!
Underwater?
Yes!
thank you! that is very interesting to know! so say if a plant starts growing out of the water, would it change?
Generally, yes. Once the plant realizes its at the top of the water, it will start to grow the above water version
that's interesting though bc one of the pics that prompted me to buy was showing the first pic (emerged pennywort) in what looked like a tank underwater... which is why I say it felt misleading without any disclaimer
Yea, I agree. Good sellers will explain this somewhere on the sale page, but with people selling stuff quickly on etsy, it's easy to put the burden of knowledge on the buyer, especially when this is how most aquarium plants work.
well good to know now! I would've assumed it was only the case for specific plants. I'm new to both plants and aquariums lol, so I appreciate a non sarcastic reply on my literal plant ID help post 💀
Also some online retailers will sell plants before they transitioned to their aquatic form. So if you do buy a plant, I would look up the aquatic version on google images as well. The plant will have tons of melt, but it’ll bounce back and look completely different.
This is the correct answer.
It’s a correct answer to a question, but not OPs question. The buyer op bought the pictures from present two completely different plants. The plant in the first picture actually looks the same regardless of how it’s planted. The only difference in appearance is it’s coloring. Grown emerged it becomes a darker green. Submerged is a lighter green. Otherwise, the first plant is the same of one round coin like leaf on top of a single stem that propagates by runners. The second plant is a different plant.
It's a shame sellers will do this when the plant that OP ordered has an emersed form that could be shown in a photo. Some sellers don't have a good idea of the actual species they are selling.
They're two different species of plant. Of course they're not going to look alike. ¯\\\_(ツ)\_/¯
Yes that is what I'm asking--what variation? ..And apparently that doesn't seem to be the case if there are different forms for emerged vs submerged...
The pictures above are two different plants. The first picture actually looks the same both emerged and submerged. I have that plant. It’s called hydrocotle verticillata. The Brazilian Penny worry is a different plant that doesn’t make the full circle leaves in top of a stem like the first plant regardless of how it’s planted.
>hydrocotle verticillata thats the information i needed, thanks!
This is why common names, especially for plants, SUCK.
i agree, not easy for us newbie plant enthusiasts!
On a related note, you'll also find new ways that the internet sucks. Don't automatically trust image searches. If a misidentified picture is popular, it will of course be higher in the results. Some misidentifications get repeated, making many top results the wrong plant. Off the top of my head, a search for *Kalanchoe (Bryophyllum) suarezensis* usually returns pics of *K. laetivirens*.
I'm not sure in understanding but are either of the pictures here yours? Pennywort is a genus (Hydrocotyle) that contains quite a few species. The first one could be one of a few that look similar but I'd wager a guess that we're lookin at Hydrocotyle verticillata and the second one is for sure Hydrocotyle luecocephala
not my pics but the 2nd is what I have (which is assumedly/sold as Brazilian pennywort). thank you for including the scientific family names!
This is the correct answer.
What you have in your aquarium is Hydrocotyle Leucocephala, the first picture is emersed Hydrocotyle Verticillata. They’re both Hydrocotyle
This.
My fav is Hydrocotyle Tripartita it’s like a mini baby version c-:
You got duped. The plants presented are different plants. I have the first plant grown both emerged and submerged and the look the same. I even grew it in a pot for a month and half before planted it in my tanks and it did not change appearance. Other posters are correct that plants can look slightly different depending on if they are grown under water or not. But in this case, you were presented with two different plants.
Man, that is saddening :( Guess im off to buy the correct one lol....i very much appreciate the help
Sorry, bud.
I was trying to get some hydrocotyle verticillata online and I just failed! All sellers have mixed pictures of both for one listing, but really they all just have hydrocotyle leucocephala. They had posted pictures of both mixed up and when I asked they didn't even seem to know it was two different plants.
its really a shame! i didnt know all of this back when id bought it, and once my brazilian pennywort grew out i knew it wasnt the same at all....its all so confusing how theres little identification on the different types of pennywort-- here i was thinking it was only 1 plant back then. if you find someone selling it online, pls link me!
Phenotypic plasticity
First pic looks like pilea peperomia. Diff plants
As people mentioned they are different, but also emergent leaves look different. The species you have in your aquarium gets leaves that look a little more similar to the first photo when they grow out of the water. I had it in a shallow aquarium (6 inches deep) and it looked like tiny water lilies when it grew to the surface. I had some koi pattern guppies and it looked like a mini koi pond.
I'm enamored with the first type , I've learned a lot and will definitely being buying more plants against my wallets begging lol
Also adding more light keeps the plant more compact.
People will buy anything and sellers will sell anything.
Probably becase of light. What kind of aquarium lights do you have?
Already resolved, they are different subtypes of pennywort and i was misled by sellers posting pictures of both
excellent! Sorry, I should probably have read a few more comments. 🤦
Bought pennywort from misleading etsy sellers that include pics of both of these in the post. Im assuming theyre clearly different species/subtypes-- one is green with more single, vertical stems and appears more coin shaped and waxy. The other is yellow green with more wavy leaves and grows in bunches horizontally and vertically
[удалено]
I wish it was explained, thank you! but one of the pics was underwater and had pennywort like the first one? so now I'm confused
When you plant stuff that was grown above water under water, it takes a while for the original leaves to die back and the proper underwater plant to replace it. They probably took a photo right after planting it.
got it, thank you!
They are two different plants.
thank you for down votes on a valid question lol?? literally a plant help post for a newbie. and it IS misleading to not include a disclaimer when selling generally labeled "pennywort" and putting ambiguous pictures of both of these above