Ceratophyllum
Hornwort or Foxtail
| Hornwort or Foxtail, Ceratophyllum demersum has dense whorls of bright or dark green, bristly foliage on slender brittle stems. These usually grow 30-50cm long, but sometimes up to 1m in larger open bodies of water. Unlike most submerged aquatics, Ceratophyllum only “roots” for a short time, this temporary phenomena being due to the plant producing branches with rhizoids or modified root-like stems.
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 Ceratophyllum demersum
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For the most part it floats suspended mid-way down in the pond. As autumn approaches shoots appear known as “winter leaves”. These are divided into terminal segments and are short and thick, eventually forming winter buds or turions, rich in starch, which become detached from the shoot. Hornwort is invaluable for difficult ponds, preferring cool deep water and not objecting unduly to shade. For those water gardeners living in cool districts with an inherited, badly sited garden pond the Hornwort is a Godsend. In early spring the dark green bristly foliage roots strongly into accumulated debris on the pond floor or in aquatic planting baskets filled with a heavy loam or an aquatic planting compost.
As the summer progresses the stems and foliage break free and float to just beneath the surface of the water. They remain free-floating until forming "winter leaves" or buds. Although Hornwort behaves differently towards the end of the season to most other submerged plants, in practical terms its propagation and establishment is similar, for it roots strongly during the spring and early summer and can be treated like any other bunched submerged aquatics.Take healthy young growths between 10 and 15cm long. Place three or four together and about 1cm up from the base secure them with a very narrow strip of lead or piece of wire. Plant these bunches in a planting basket, 8 to 12 bunches to a basket depending upon the size. When planting, be sure that the lead weight or wire is buried or else the stems of the plants will rot through and the tops will float away. Top-dress the compost with well-washed gravel.
Ceratophyllum is a declared weed in Tasmania and illegal to cultivate in that state.
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