by Stefania Fanchini.
A romantic legend turned this fascinating plant into a symbol of deep, tormented love. Unique, lucky, and definitely one-of-a-kind.
Marimo is small, soft, bright-green algae which is almost perfectly spherical. Its scientific name is Aegagropila Linnae, an aquatic plant which originally comes from lakes in East Asia and Central Europe: “mari” means ball and “mo” means a plant which grows in water. In Japan it only lives in the lake in Akan National Park, where a Japanese myth was forged and turned it into a symbol of eternal love.
Photo lafogliapreziosa.it
The legend has it that a couple of young lovers escaped from their disapproving families to the shores of Lake Akan and turned their own hearts into Marimo algae. The longevity of this cute algae, which can reach up to 200 years old, and its slow growth of around 5 mm/year have made it a symbol of deep and long-lasting love or the sincerest form of friendship. It is a good-luck-charm for those on the verge of a new phase in life and consolidates old bonds.
Photo inspirando.it
In nature it provides shelter to small shrimp who are looking to escape from predators, but its charm mostly lies in the dance which it carries out daily as it goes up to the surface for chlorophyll synthesis. Its constant changes produce oxygen bubbles and it almost looks as if it is engaged in an elegant dance.
Photo dotroom.it
Their beauty and simple maintenance make these minimalist and elegant, aquatic plants irresistible. With just a few steps and a bit of consistency, they provide loads of satisfaction. Changing the water is essential to maintaining them—fresh water at temperatures cooler than 23 degrees Celsius every 10-15 days.
Photo igiardinidiellis.it
Next, with regards to lighting, they must never be placed under direct sunlight or set near heat sources. If the plant loses its bright green color over time, it means that it is not in good health and action is needed.
Photo scottiverdesign.it
As a final piece of advice, for the best container, it is best to buy jars which are spacious enough for them to grow and freely move. When topped up with sparkling water, the algae can “show itself off”, turning the carbon dioxide into oxygen and producing new bubbles. A genuine marvel of nature.
Photo casanaturavivaio.it
Cover image, photo takumilifestyle.it
