| |
Cryptocoryne spiralis (Retzius) Fischer ex Wydler var. caudigera Bogner |
Sivadasan ever gave this plant to Josef Bogner who brought it to Europe in 1986. It was collected by one of Sivadasan's students in a Shola forest at 1300 m. It proved to be an easy to grow plant, both in emerged as submerged conditions, however it did not flower so its identity could not be confirmed. Maybe a C. spiralis or C. consobrina or something new? When in 2006 C. consobrina was found again (Sunil 2009), the question was still open. As the plant is very easy to grow, they were distributed by hundreds to Cryptocoryne-lovers to flower it. Finally, after 26 years, it flowered at the Botanical Garden of Munich, Bogner's 'home station' and is now described as a new variety of C. spiralis.
As it flowered only once up to now, and there was no time to take pictures of the live plant, so the only pictures are from herbarium material.
Click on the picture to get the full image (ca. 50 kB) |
 |
The first flowering specimen of Cryptocoryne spiralis var. caudigera (TYPE) .
coll. Sivadasan s.n., cult. Bogner = NJ 3411 |
|
 |
Note the long, threadform tail, not seen in any other C. spiralis.
coll. Sivadasan s.n., cult. Bogner = NJ 3411
|
|
 |
Still the same plant.
coll. Sivadasan s.n., cult. Bogner = NJ 3411 |
|
 |
In the Munich herbarium another sheet was found matching the new variety, however this plant grows in the lowland near Goa.
coll. Maesen 3332
photo Hoeck
|
|
| |
|
|
|
 |
Emerged cultivated plants of C. spiralis var. caudigera
coll. Sivadasan s.n., cult. NJ 3411
photo Jacobsen
|
|
 |
Imitating the lower temperatures at 1300 mn in the shola forest, four pots were put outdoor in the half-shade.
coll. Sivadasan s.n., cult. B 828 = NJ 3411
|
|
 |
They stand very well up to November when there may be frost at night.
coll. Sivadasan s.n., cult. B 828 = NJ 3411
|
|
 |
This how they look before taking them inside again. But the lower temperatures did not induce flowering later on.
coll. Sivadasan s.n., cult. B 828 = NJ 3411
|
|
| |
|
|
|
 |
Aquarium culture of C. spiralis var. caudigera. Submerged it has
flaccid leaves, height ca. 30 cm.
coll. Sivadasan s.n., cult. B 828 = NJ 3411
photo Kasselmann
|
|
 |
Emerged cultivated plants of C. spiralis var. caudigera. Height 10 - 15 cm, leaves more or less stiff.
coll. Sivadasan s.n., cult. B 828
|
|
 |
Submerged cultivated plants of C. spiralis var. caudigera.
coll. Sivadasan s.n., cult. B 828
|
|
 |
Distribution of Cryptocoryne spiralis var. caudigera
|
|
| |
|
|
|
C. spiralis var. caudigera is an excellent aquarium plant. It multiplies not too fast, has short runners so you get a nice group.
December 2013 |
Literature.
(for more literature see the spiralis-group):
- Bogner, J., 2013. Eine neue Vatietat der Cryptocoryne spiralis (Retzius) Fischer ex Wydler (Araceae) ais Indien. Aqua Planta 38(4): 141-148. (Document service)
- Sunil, C.N. & M. Sivadasan, 2009. Rediscovery of Cryptocoryne consobrina, a little-known and suspected-to-be extinct species of Araceae of India. Aroideana, Vol. 32: 142-146.
- Sunil, C.N. & M. Sivadasan, 2009. Cryptocoryne consobrina Schott (Araceae), eine lang verschollene Art aus Indien. Aqua Planta 34(4): 135-140
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
