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Cryptocoryne coronata Bastmeijer & van Wijngaarden |
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In 1998, an import shipment from Morco International, Philippines, revealed a hitherto
undescribed species. Together with Cryptocoryne usteriana Engler from the
Guimaras island, the firm shipped a 'lookalike', collected near Zamboanga from Mindanao
island. The latter flowered in the Netherlands and was remarked by Piet van Wijngaarden in
the hothouses of Aqua Fleur. It turned out to be a new species.
Click on the picture to get the full image (ca. 50 kB) |
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Rhizomes of imported plants were put on a rockwool substrate
and thrived strongly, as usual for 'wild' plants. The inflorescence was apparently 'under
way' when the plants were collected. Note the strongly twisted upper part of the limb of
the bud.
coll. unknown, cult. W79
photo van Wijngaarden |
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Characteristic of the inflorescence of C. coronata are the white protuberances around the throat, resembling a crown. ('coronata').
coll. unknown, cult. B780
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The limb of the spathe just after opening. Note the red
colored lower part of the inflorescence (the kettle). Note the cataphyls.
coll. unknown, cult. W79
photo van Wijngaarden |
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The tube of the spathe is mostly strongly twisted. The top of
the limb is almost rolled up, resembling a tail.
coll. unknown, cult. W79
photo van Wijngaarden
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The upper side of the leaves is even (dark)green without
purple. The lower side is deep purple red colored. In culture the lower side may turn into
a pale green.
coll. unknown, cult. W79
photo van Wijngaarden
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A typical limb of the spathe. This specimen has a very
pronounced 'crown' around the throat. Note the strongly twisted tube, here quite reddish.
coll. unknown, cult. W79
photo van Wijngaarden
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A less developed limb of the spathe. Note the rather narrow
limb and the irregular development of the protuberances.
coll. unknown, cult. B780
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The same inflorescence as pictured left, seen from behind.
Note the 'cup' shaped lower part of the limb.
coll. unknown, cult. B780
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A close up of the limb, showing the protuberances. Note that
some protuberances are quite irregular divided.
coll. unknown, cult. B780
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Sometimes the limb of the spathe opens widely.The margins are
not yet folded back.
coll. unknown, cult. W79
photo van Wijngaarden
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A length section of the lower part of the inflorescence, the
kettle, with the female (at base) and the male flowers at top.
coll. unknown, cult. B780
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C. coronata is collected near Zamboanga, the most
western part of the Mindanao island
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This new species is in some way remarkable. In the vegetative parts it strongly
resembles C. usteriana. Recent information of plants of C. usteriana collected near Cebu (Jacobsen, Bogner & Christensen 1998), and an unknown collection
of Bednii (private communication) made clear that C. usteriana can have leaves
like C. coronata. In contrast, the well known plants collected by Josef Bogner
(1984) from the Guimaras island in 1983 have bright green, narrow leaves, the lower side
mostly pale green to irregular purple spotted.
But the inflorescence of C. coronata is not to be compared to C. usteriana,
but have some resemblance to C. aponogetifolia Merrill. Recent imports of C.
aponogetifolia, with narrow, even green leaves, may flower with a spathe which is
rather close to C. coronata but missing the pronounced protuberances.
Updated April 1999. |
Literature.
- Bastmeijer, J.D. & P. van Wijngaarden, 1999. Cryptocoryne coronata
Bastmeijer & van Wijngaarden spec. nov. (Araceae), eine neue Art von den Philippinen.
Aqua Planta 24(1): 23-28.
- Bogner, J.,1984. Cryptocoryne usteriana Engler und Cryptocoryne aponogetifolia Merrill.
Aqua-Planta 9(4) : 7-13.
- Engler, A., 1916. Cryptocoryne usteriana Engler n.sp. Bot. Jb. 54, Beiblatt z d Bot. Jb.,
Nr 116 : 125.
- Jacobsen, N., J. Bogner & C. Christensen, 1998. Weitere Aufsammlungen von Cryptocoryne
usteriana Engler auf den Philippinen. Aqua-Planta 23(3): 113-115.
- Merrill, E.D., 1919. New or noteworthy Philippine plants XV. Philipp.J.Sci. 14(4) :
370-371.
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