Micro Sword / Lilaeopsis Novaezelandiae

Quick facts

Identity

Also known as

Brazilian Micro Sword; Micro Sword Plant; Narrow-leaf Micro Sword

Synonyms

Lilaeopsis novae-zelandiae (often confused/sold under this name)

Environment

Freshwater

Native to

Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay

Habitat

Marshes, riverbanks, and shallow, periodically flooded lowland areas of South America, often growing partially emersed on damp soil

Sourcing

Aquacultured

Conservation

Not Evaluated

Care

Care level

Moderate

Growth form

Carpeting

Max height

1 – 3 in (2.5 – 7.6 cm)

Growth rate

Slow

Placement

Foreground, Carpet

Water

Temperature

70 – 82 °F (21 – 28 °C)

pH

6.0 – 7.5

GH

2 – 18 dGH

Flow

Low-Moderate

Light

High

CO₂

Beneficial

Planting

Substrate

Nutrient-rich preferred

Feeds from

Roots

Fertilizer needs

Medium

Colors

Green

Feeding & breeding

Propagation

Runners

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Care guide

Overview

Suits foreground planting in nano to medium tanks where a low, grassy meadow effect is wanted rather than a manicured lawn. Fine grass-like rosettes creep outward via runners, gradually knitting into a carpet under medium-high light and CO2, or filling in slowly under low-tech conditions. Best planted as small tissue-culture portions spaced across the substrate rather than one dense clump.

Care

Micro sword produces grass-like rosettes that spread by creeping stolons, gradually knitting into a low meadow-style carpet rather than a manicured lawn. It fills in fastest with medium to high light and CO2 injection, though it will survive at a much slower pace in a low-tech setup with a sparser result. Regular root tab dosing and a nutrient-rich substrate make the difference between a thin scattering of blades and a dense mat.

Planting & trimming

Plant small tissue-culture portions of just a few blades each, spaced about an inch apart in a grid across the foreground rather than as one large clump, since the fine roots are fragile and easily damaged by crowding. Use tweezers to tuck the roots into a soft, nutrient-rich substrate and reduce flow for the first several days so the plant is not dislodged before it anchors. Trim any runners that creep past the intended planting area, though once the carpet is established it is largely self-maintaining.

Fertilizing

As a root feeder, this plant relies heavily on substrate nutrients, so root tabs pushed near the base every few months are more effective than water column dosing alone. Iron supplementation helps keep the blades a deep green, since pale or yellowing leaves usually point to iron or nitrogen deficiency. A nutrient-rich aquasoil or mineralized substrate gives noticeably better results than inert gravel or sand, which will need more frequent fertilizer top-ups.

Propagation

The plant spreads naturally through horizontal runners that produce new plantlets at intervals along the substrate surface. Once a plantlet has grown its own root system, the runner connecting it to the parent can be cut and the new rosette relocated or left in place to thicken the carpet. This is the only practical propagation method for this species and requires no special technique beyond patience.

Problems

Newly planted clumps often show some leaf melt or yellowing before new growth emerges, which is normal and not a sign of failure. Slow, sparse spread is typically traced to low light or a nutrient-poor substrate rather than disease. Hair algae and BBA can colonize the older, lower portions of dense clumps if flow and CO2 levels are inconsistent, so stable conditions help keep the carpet clean.

Sources

1. Micro sword (Lilaeopsis brasiliensis) - Scale & Stem
2. Micro Sword Plant (Lilaeopsis brasiliensis): Ultimate Care Guide - Fish Laboratory
3. Lilaeopsis brasiliensis (Micro Sword) – Care, Growth Tips, and Carpet Formation
4. Micro Sword (Lilaeopsis brasiliensis), Care, Tank Mates & Compatibility, Fin & Stem

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