The Crypts pages~ by Jan D. Bastmeijer

by Jan D. Bastmeijer ~ 2016

Suwidji Wongso & Co.

These pages are on the cultivation and taxonomy of plants of the genus Cryptocoryne & Lagenandra (Araceae)

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HOME >Cryptocoryne crispatula var.kubotae

Cryptocoryne crispatula Engler var. kubotae N. Jacobsen & Bastmeijer

(Document service)

Until recently was this plant known under the name var. tonkinensis. But Gagnepain, who ever discovered the 'real' tonkinensis and named it had a different plant as was shown by Jacobsen et al. (2015). This species is characterized by the narrow(c. 2-3 mm), smooth, soft green leaves and a short tube of the spathe (as much as the length of the twisted limb) and is now named as var. kubotae. There are plants of var. crispatula with also very narrow leaves but these have a relative much longer tube. Both in submersed and emerged cultivation it is an easy to cultivate species which propagates sassily but it is not a fast grower. There are only three localities known for this plant.

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

Habitat at the Yot Dome Wildlife Sanctuary on the bank of a stream at low water. The long leaves will wither and the plant will thrive short leaves and maybe thrive a spathe.
photo Bawn

Flowering plants from the natural habitat.
coll.NJT02-31
photo Jacobsen

Shipment of fresh collected submerged growing plants. Leaves up to 50 cm.
coll. Lim
photo Jacobsen

Showing the relative short tube of the spathe.
coll.NJT02-31
photo Jacobsen

The spiral limb opens wide at maturing
coll. Lim, cult. B1336

As all C. crispatula plants, var. kubotae has more or less developed red lines or spots on the limb.
coll. Lim, cult. B1336

The same holds for the slight constricted kettle.
coll. Lim, cult. B1336

The olfactory bodies , within the circle with stigmas a bit reddish, unseal.
coll. Lim, cult. B1336

The ruler is in cm.
coll. Schöpfel, cult. B1303

Here are the red lines less pronounced
coll. Schöpfel, cult. B1303

Normal in crispatula are the 'light windows' or alveoli in the kettle wall opposite the male flowers (top left).
coll. Schöpfel, cult. B1303

The number of female flowers varies in general from 4 to 7. White olfactory bodies
coll. Schöpfel, cult. B1303

An emerged cultivated var. kubotae with the longer summer leaves withering and thriving shorter erect leaves off December. In one or two months it will flower.
coll. Lim, cult. B1336

An uprooted plant to be herbarized. Note short runners. Another character is that the leaves spread wide just above the soil.
coll. Schöpfel, cult. B1303

Var. kubotae in an aquarium (three rosettes in the foreground). Here also the leaves spread out.
coll. Lim, cult. B1336

Distribution of C. crispatula var. kubotae on the Khorat plains in NE Thailand.

These plants have a seasonal rhythm in nature, growing submersed in the river during high water level and drying out on the banks at low level for months. The plant flowers and survive with new small leaves. Cryptocoryne crispatula var's balansae, flaccidifolia and tonkinensis grow the whole year submerged and keep their long leaves. Cryptocoryne crispatula var. kubotae submersed in an aquarium holds its long leaves (forever?).

For reference to the other plants and more literature see the page on the crispatula group.

Updated January 2006, correction map Novmber 2016

Literature:

Jacobsen er al. 2015. A new variety of Cryptocoryne crispatula Engl. (Araceae) from Thailand. Thai Forest Bull. (bot) 43: 104-110. (Document service)