Japanese Marimo Moss Balls
Cladophora aegagropila
37.8029, -122.448
Field Notes
Description:
Those who have not heard of Marimo (like me lol) would probably wonder what it is. Commonly known as Marimo in Korea, its technical term is Cladophora aegagropila, also called "Tribbles" or "Algae Balls" in the West. Marimo is the name given to a type of land locked algae formed by many small strings of algae tangled together in a radial pattern forming a fuzzy green ball. Mari comes from the Japanese word for ball and mo refers to algae. As its life span is quite long - the biggest Marimo ball is known to have lived over 100 years. Breeding the algae balls in right condition, one can hand over a couple of generations from grandparents to a grandson, working as a medium of family love.
Habitat:
Originated from Lake Akan in Japan, it is considered as national treasure declared as a natural monument. In its natural habitat; their ability to move around by using the undercurrents also rise to the surface in the morning and sink at night due to receive plenty of light to carry out photosynthesis is an interesting character of Moss Ball. Although these balls have been observed to grow to some degree growing in freshwater lakes and ponds in European countries and some other lakes in Japan; only in this particular lake they grow to be a noticeable size in perfect spherical shape.
Notes:
Above all, the main reason for it gaining public favor would probably be due to the legend; once there lived a daughter of the chief of a tribe around Lake Akan. She fell in love with a commoner, but confronted opposition of her parents. She ran away with him and sublimated into Marimo. For that myth, in Japan, it has become spotlighted as "love plant," which realizes true love and accomplishes one's heart's desire when it is given and taken as a present. It has crossed the ocean to reach Korea, welcomed by children, lovers and parents.
This plant does NOT cause algae problem. Live Plants is a natural biological filter to remove ammonia in aquarium.
Propagate by dividing into smaller pieces, which become spherical over time.
Negligible maintenance required.
No carbon dioxide injection required for healthy growth.
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