''Hemianthus callitrichoides'' (also known as dwarf baby tears, cuba or simply the initials HC) is a semi-aquatic plant in the family

Linderniaceae Linderniaceae is a family (biology), family of flowering plants in the order Lamiales, which consists of about 25 genus, genera and 265 species occurring worldwide. ''Vandellia micrantha'' is eaten in Laos, but tastes bitter. Best known are the w ...

. The plant is endemic to West Indies, where it is native to the islands of

The Bahamas The Bahamas (), officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an island country within the Lucayan Archipelago of the West Indies in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic. It takes up 97% of the Lucayan Archipelago's land area and is home to ...

Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...

Hispaniola Hispaniola (, also ; es, La Española; Latin and french: Hispaniola; ht, Ispayola; tnq, Ayiti or Quisqueya) is an island in the Caribbean that is part of the Greater Antilles. Hispaniola is the most populous island in the West Indies, and th ...

Jamaica Jamaica (; ) is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, and west of His ...

, and

Puerto Rico Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and Unincorporated ...

. In

, this species known as "water-starwort". This species is commonly used as a foreground or carpeting plant in planted aquariums. When used in

aquascaping Aquascaping is the craft of arranging aquatic plants, as well as rocks, stones, cavework, or driftwood, in an aesthetically pleasing manner within an aquarium—in effect, gardening under water. Aquascape designs include a number of distinct styl ...

, this species is known to have relatively high light and CO₂ requirements. Once planted, each portion will produce runners which basically are individual stems that branch off and grow along the substrate. ''Hemianthus callitrichoides'' was first collected by Holger Windeløv and Eusebio Canicio Delgado Pérez in 2003 in

Las Pozas Las Pozas ("the Pools") is a surrealistic group of structures created by Edward James, more than above sea level, in a subtropical rainforest in the Sierra Gorda mountains of Mexico. It includes more than of natural waterfalls and pools interlac ...

, Cuba, about east of

Havana Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.

. Unlike the related '' Hemianthus micranthemoides'', ''H. callitrichoides'' is thought to be native only to Cuba.

References

Scrophulariaceae Aquatic plants Plants described in 1862 {{Scrophulariaceae-stub