Echinodorus major

Echinodorus major, the Ruffled Sword, is a striking species native to Brazil producing upright, lance-shaped leaves with strongly wavy, ruffled margins that set it apart visually from all other Echinodorus. In the aquarium it forms a robust rosette reaching 40–60 cm tall, its leaves shimmering with the undulation of the margins under water movement. The foliage is a vivid mid-green with clearly defined venation that accentuates the ruffled texture.

It is a demanding feeder that rewards generous root nutrition with impressively large leaves; undernourished specimens produce smaller, paler growth. Despite this nutritional appetite, it is not particularly difficult to keep and adapts well to a range of tropical water parameters. CO2 injection is beneficial but not essential when root nutrition is adequate.

The Ruffled Sword's dramatic leaf texture makes it an excellent choice as a solitary background specimen in large planted tanks or South American biotopes, where its visual impact is maximised against open mid-water space.

Light: Medium to high (40–70 PAR); higher light enhances leaf colour and vigour. CO2: Beneficial (15–25 mg/L); not strictly required with excellent root nutrition. Fertilisation: Root tabs every 3 months are essential; liquid fertiliser with iron and NPK weekly. Placement: Background centrepiece; plant singly with 20–25 cm clear radius; keep crown fully exposed. Propagation: Daughter plants form on long flower stalks — sever once they have 3+ leaves and roots.