''Vesicularia dubyana'', known as Java moss or Singapore moss, is a species of moss native to Asia. It is common in the

aquarium trade Fishkeeping is a popular hobby, practiced by aquarists, concerned with keeping fish in a home aquarium or garden pond. There is also a piscicultural fishkeeping industry, serving as a branch of agriculture. Origins of fishkeeping Fish ha ...

. The species was named in honor of botanist

Jean Étienne Duby Jean Étienne Duby (15 February 1798 in Geneva – 24 November 1885) was a Swiss clergyman and botanist. He studied theology in Geneva, obtaining his consecration in 1820, and having an avid interest in natural history, he earned his degree in ...

Description

The species is monoecious and

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wid ...

, with an irregularly branched stem. In the wild, it is found on

soil Soil, also commonly referred to as earth or dirt Dirt is an unclean matter, especially when in contact with a person's clothes, skin, or possessions. In such cases, they are said to become dirty. Common types of dirt include: * Debri ...

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...

s, and trunks of trees.

Cultivation and uses

In the aquarium trade, Java moss can refer to either ''V. dubyana'' or ''

Taxiphyllum barbieri ''Taxiphyllum barbieri'', known as Java moss or Bogor moss, is a moss belonging to the family Hypnaceae. Native to southeast Asia, it is commonly used in freshwater aquariums. It attaches to rocks, roots, and driftwood. In the wild, it grows in ...

'', and it can be difficult to distinguish between the species. Although ''V. dubyana'' was the first species to be called 'Java moss', it has been supplanted in popularity by ''T. barbieri''. It was first introduced to aquarists in 1933. ''V. dubyana'' is a hardy moss when grown in cultivation, and can tolerate temperatures between , low light, and variable pH. It can withstand

brackish Brackish water, sometimes termed brack water, is water occurring in a natural environment that has more salinity than freshwater, but not as much as seawater. It may result from mixing seawater (salt water) and fresh water together, as in estu ...

conditions. It propagates and forms sporophytes readily, even when fully submersed.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q13512912 Hypnaceae Freshwater plants