Bolbitis Heteroclita 'Difformis' (Mini Bolbitis or Bolbitis Davallia)

Bolbitis heteroclita 'Difformis' (commonly known as Mini Bolbitis or Bolbitis Davallia) is a rare, miniature aquatic fern native to the Philippines. Known for its delicate, parsley-like fronds and extremely slow growth rate, it is highly prized by hobbyists for adding fine detail to aquariums, terrariums, and paludariums.

Quick Plant Profile

Common Names: Mini Bolbitis, Bolbitis Davallia, Asian Water Fern.

Growth Rate: Extremely slow.

Placement: Midground or foreground accent attached to hardscape.

Habitat Versatility: Amphibious (grows both submerged underwater and emersed on land).

How to Plant & Propagate

Do Not Bury the Rhizome: Like Anubias and Java Ferns, burying the thick horizontal stem (rhizome) in soil or gravel will cause it to rot and die.

Attachment: Use aquarium-safe super glue or fishing line to attach the rhizome to lava rocks or textured driftwood. Over time, its tiny roots will grip the hardscape naturally.

Propagation: Carefully slice the horizontal rhizome into two or more pieces using sharp scissors, ensuring each piece has at least 2–3 leaves attached.

Submerged (Aquarium) vs. Emersed (Terrarium) Growth

This fern alters its physical shape depending on where it is grown:

Underwater (Submerged): The plant grows at a snail's pace. The leaves become significantly smaller, darker green, and less finely feathered, making it an excellent textural accent for nano tanks. Note that when introducing an emersed-grown nursery plant to an aquarium, the old leaves may "melt" away before new underwater growth appears.

Above Water (Emersed): It thrives much faster in high-humidity land environments like paludarium shorelines or terrarium mats. It forms detailed, bright green, feathery carpets that grow up to 7 cm tall.