Helanthium bolivianum 'Vesuvius' is also known under the name Echinodorus 'Vesuvius'. It is the first cultivar from the group of runner-forming sword plants (Helanthium, formerly in the genus Echinodorus). It was selected from Helanthium bolivianum 'Angustifolius' (aka Echinodorus angustifolius) by the aquatic plant nursery Oriental (Singapur). The narrow, tightly spiralling fresh green leaves are pointy and make this Helanthium a real eye-catcher. The plant is very decorative as a group or as solitary plant in the middle ground of the aquarium. Under favourable conditions it spreads fast through runners. When cultivated above the waterline, the emerged leaves are almost straight. Only under water it develops its typical spiralling leaves.