[4] Bolbitis heudelotii, named for the botanical explorer of West Africa Jean-Pierre Heudelot (1802–1837),[5] is an aquatic polypody fern growing submerged in rivers and streams, attached to rocks or wood by the threadlike rootlets extending from its rhizomes.

The water in its native habitat is fast-moving over sandy or rocky bottoms, very clean, not very hard and slightly acidic.

[citation needed] In the aquarium, B. heudelotii requires water temperatures of 20–28 °C and moderately acidic ('soft') to neutral water with a pH range of 5.0–7.0,[6] but tolerates a wide range of light levels.

[7][8][3] This species is often used as a midground specimen plant in tropical freshwater aquaria.

[10] It is best grown secured to a piece of wood rather than planted direct in the substrate.