by Jan D. Bastmeijer ~ 2016
Suwidji Wongso & Co.
 
These pages are on the cultivation and taxonomy of plants of the genus Cryptocoryne & Lagenandra (Araceae)
 
CSS MenuMaker
HOME >Cryptocoryne spiralis var.spiralis
 

Cryptocoryne spiralis (Retzius) Fischer ex Wydler var. spiralis

(Document service)

Cryptocoryne spiralis var. spiralis is a common plant in India, where it can be a weed in rice fields. It is the first described Cryptocoryne (1830). C. spiralis is regarded as the most 'primitive', having a septum closing the kettle. This feature is not seen in any other Cryptocoryne, but is seen in the related genus Lagenandra. Be aware that there are lot of different looking C. spiralis var. spiralis and moreover, a number of them are very different in habitus when growing submerged.

Click on the picture to get the full image (ca. 50 kB)

A huge patch of C. spiralis var. spiralis.
photo te Beest
C. spiralis var. spiralis is a weed in Kerala, growing in a dry meadow after the rice harvest, apparently not preferred by the cattle.
photo Bogner
Uprooted plants from the meadow in Kerala, it looks that they propagate by divisions of the rhizome and not by runners.
photo Bogner
Variation in spathe's of C. spiralis var. spiralis from that one locality in Kerala. Note that the kettle is always below the surface (the white part).
photo Bogner
       
C. spiralis var. spiralis can propagate by division of the rhizome. In this way there grow big stands of plants. Note the tip of the spathe.
coll. unknown., cult. B 603
The leaves can have a brown margin or can be full brown. The margin is sometimes slight undulated.
coll. unknown, cult. B 116
The spathe puts only the limb out of the soil. The margins of the limb are strong denticulate. The limb varies in colour from red to yellow and often has pronounced transverse rims.
coll. Cook s.n., cult. B 1165
Aquarium culture of C. spiralis var. spiralis. Broad undulated leaves, up to 50 cm, younger leaves brownish.This plant can fill a 130 cm aquarium in one year by making long runners
coll. unknown, cult. B554
       
A very old aquarium strain with narrow leaves up to 1 m which looks exactly like a C. crispatula var. flaccidifolia but finally
... turned out to be a C. spiralis var. spiralis when grown emerged. Leaves ca. 30 cm.
coll. unknown, cult B 20
A rather 'common' formed spathe.
unknown coll., cult. B 116
A short limb of the spathe with a yellow top.
unknown coll., cult. B 636
       
Only the limb is visible, the kettle is always deep buried in the soil.
coll. Cook, cult. B 1165
Typical for C. spiralis are the transverse ribs on the limb and the warty outgrowths on the margin....
coll. Cook, cult B 554
... however it may be much less expressed in other plants.
coll. FW-I08-C02, cult B1209
A narrow leaved plant with a strongly twisted limb.
coll. FW I08-C02, cult B 1209
       
The inside colour of the kettle varies from white to deep red in the upper part.
coll. Cook, cult. B1165.
The septum just above the male flowers has a narrow circular hole.
coll. FW I08-C02, cult. B1209
The septum seen from above (the limb of the spathe is cut).
coll. FW I08-C02, cult. B1209
The stigma's are typical for C. spiralis var. spiralis.
coll. unknown, cult. B 116
       
This narrow leaved C. spiralis var. spiralis propagates by runners.Note the strong contractible roots
coll. FW-I08-C02, cult B1209
Herbariumsheet (M) with a rather broad leaved plant.
coll. Patil 0333
photo Hoeck
Drawing in de Wit (1990) of C. spiralis var. spiralis
coll.hort.!
drawing Ike Zewald

Distribution of C. spiralis var. spiralis
       

Cryptocoryne spiralis var. spiralis is a rather easy to cultivate plant with perhaps one withdrawal, it propagates mostly very slowly. There are however forms that do well and these are better suited for the aquarium. In emerged culture it tolerates rather dry air and full sun, so you can cultivate these plants in an open pot at your window.

Updated December 2013

Literature. see the spiralis group

 
 
Home | Introduction | by Alphabet by Country Botanical How to | Documents | Lagenandra | Site Map 
Copyright © 2024 the Crypts pages by Jan D. Bastmeijer All rights reserved.