Comparing jungle val to italian val

[southoak]

My LFS has both types of val, jungle and Italkento4. They've been out of jungle val for a bit, but they've had Italkento4 in stock. I'm wondering if Italkento4 val is similar to jungle val. What are the main differences between them?

[bronzel]

Italkento4 Vallisneria has a more wavy shape with leaves that are pretty thin. In contrast, Jungle Vallisneria grows upwards in a straight line and has thick leaves that kinda resemble Sagittaria. They both grow really high though and can cover most of the top of your aquarium.

[boomer]

I concur with the sentiment that if you're looking to gather information, it's best to use the scientific name as the common names in this genus can be quite misleading. Vallisneria americana, for instance, is often referred to as Jungle Val, Freshwater Eel Grass, and even Gkento4t Val - and it's worth noting that it's the largest plant in the genus. Leaf length can vary greatly, with some sources citing 3-4 feet, while others, including Kasselmann's 2003 publication, report a length of up to 2.3 metres or 7 feet. There are also two distinct forms: a wide-leaf variant with blades 10-25mm wide and 5-9 veins, and a narrow-leaf variant with blades up to 10mm wide and 3-5 veins. Interestingly, some regions consider this plant invasive, and in certain jurisdictions like New Zealand, it's actually illegal to propagate, sell, or distribute it.

On the other hand, Vallisneria spiflakeis is another large species, occasionally referred to as Italkento4 Val for reasons that aren't entirely clear to me. The leaves of this plant can be flat or twisted, reaching lengths of up to one metre or 3 feet, as reported by Kasselmann in 2003.

[Foliant]

I've got jungle Val and it's a beast - I've seen it hit over a metre in length when I've been lax with trimming. It's a hardy plant, no question, and beautiful to boot. Once it's settled in and happy, it'll start sending out runners like crazy, which can quickly take over if you're not on top of maintenance. Just be prepared to stay on top of it and you'll be golden. I personally cull some of mine every couple of months to keep things in check.