crispatula group

the crispatula group

In 2012 the C. crispatula var's are: balansae, crispatula, decus-mekongensis, flaccidifolia, planifolia, tonkinensis and yunnanensis. This is based on differences in the leaf and in the spathe, especially the markings on the limb. As there is a broad range in these characters, it is sometimes arbitrary to name a variety. With this in mind it is the best solution.

The Cryptocoryne crispatula group consists of the 7 var's of C. crispatula together with C. albida and C. retrospiralis. The other (more or less narrow) linear leaved species from the mainland Asia, C. consobrina, C. cruddasiana, C. loeiensis, C. mekongensis, C. sivadasanii and also C. spiralis are shown here to facilitate the comparison. The key's provided by Jacobsen for the crispatula group are included, and also the references.

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C. crispatula var. balansae is the only one with bullated leaves which may be up to 4 cm broad. coll. NJT02-12, cult. B878	C. crispatula var. crispatula has narrow leaves with (mostly) an undulated margin. The leaves stand upright even when emerged. coll. & cult. NJ 77-36 photo Jacobsen	C. crispatula var. decus-mekongensis has a broad white limb of the spathe covered with red dots. coll. LK5507F, cult B 1226	C. crispatula var. flaccidifolia has long, mostly undulated leaves. When emerged they don't stand upright. coll. unkbown, cult. NJ 2984 photo Jacobsen

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C. crispatula var. planifolia has broad smooth leaves with a red lower side. The spathe is fully white, both inside as outside. coll. ZH2010-01 photo Zhou	C. crispatula var. tonkinensis has very narrow, soft leaves which hardly stand upright when emerged. leg. Schöpfel, cult. B 1303	C. crispatula var. yunnanensis has relative short stiff leaves like the var. crispatula. The spathe is distinct. coll.& cult. Bogner photo Gerlach	All varieties of C. crispatula.

Other narrow leaved Cryptocoryne from mainland Asia



C. albida from Myanmar (Birma) and Thailand has rather broad, lanceolate leaves from green to brown and a wide open first twist of the limb of the spathe. coll. NJT02-01, cult. B866	C. consobrina from India is recently recollected but till now not in cultivation. It has a rough limb of the spathe. coll. Sunil photo Sunil	C. cruddasiana is from northern Myanmar (Birma). The spathe is very distinct with transverse rims. coll. Murata 041201, cult. NJ photo Jacobsen	C. loeiensis from the Mekong river in northern Thailand grows in mixed populations with C. crispatula var. crispatula. It differs by having a rough red-brown limb of the spathe. coll. T2, cult. B 1145a



C. mekongensis is from the Mekong river in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. It has a typical collar and a more or less twisted limb of the spathe with pronounced transverse rims. coll. LK5608G2, cult. B1275	C. retrospiralis from India is quite like C. crispatula var. crispatula but differs in details of the limb, having red dots in stead of lines. coll. Bogner, cult. B1055	C. sivadasanii is found in Kerala, India. In nature it has a seasonal character but it grows for over years in the aquarium without any dormancy. coll. & photo Raj	C. spiralis from India is quite distinct by its spathe. The variation in the leaves very big. Submerged forms may have narrow flaccid leaves. coll. Cook, cult. B 1165

The crispatula group split into two parts. Iin the first part are the plants which grow always submerged in shallow water, these have flaccid leaves: C. crispatula var. balansae, C. crispatula var. flaccidifolia, C. crispatula var. tonkinensis and C. crispatula var. planifolia.

In the other part are plants with a seasonal character, due to changes in the waterlevel. They grow emerged in the dry season, mostly in full sun and go dormant at the seasonal high water, for example, water levels in the Mekong river may rise 5 - 10 m. They form short 'monsoon leaves', terete leaves which are reduced to the main vein. These plants are: C. crispatula var crispatula, C. crispatula var. decus-mekongensis and C. crispatula var. yunnanensis.

This adaptation is also seen in C. cruddasiana, C. loeiensis, C. mekongensis and even in C. retrospiralis. As far as I know, C. albida does not show any dimorphism.

C. crispatula var. balansae / flaccidifolia are very popular aquarium plants. From the rest mentioned here, var. tonkinensis, C. albida and C. spiralis are rare in the aquarium hobby.

All plants of the 'crispatula group' are easy to cultivate. Most grow in a calcium rich environment, limestone, and will prefer hard or at least neutral water.

See Jacobsen's key for the albida / crispatula group.

Updated July 2012

Literature.

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