Hygrophila corymbosa

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Giant Hygro

Hygrophila corymbosa in an aquarium

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Acanthaceae
Genus:	Hygrophila
Species:	H. corymbosa

Binomial name

Hygrophila corymbosa
Lindau

Synonyms

Nomaphila stricta

Hygrophila corymbosa, commonly known as temple plant, starhorn or giant hygro, is an aquatic plant in the the acanthus family. It is native to South East Asia, but is grown worldwide in tropical aquariums. The plant naturally grows as an emergent, but it can survive long periods fully submerged.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Cultivation

Hygrophila corymbosa is a fast growing plant that can be frequently trimmed back. It prefers a well lit situation, a nutriment rich water and compost, and benefits from additional CO₂. If it is allowed to grow out of the aquarium, it will bear purple scented flowers, often causing the lower leaves to drop. The plant is adaptable to a variety of water conditions. There are several forms in the aquarium trade such as red, siamensis and many others, that seem to be mainly ecological variants.^{[citation needed]}

It can be easily propagated by taking cuttings and planting them in the substrate. The plant is reported to be useful for absorbing ammonium and nitrates and helping to fight algal growth.^{[citation needed]}