Cryptocoryne schulzei has a narrow distribution in Johore, Malaysia and is found in one of the isles at the east coast of Sumatra. It is found in a few small streams and rivers and it is threatened in nature by over collecting and change in land use. It may perhaps survive in the waters between plantations but one has to take care.

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A small jungle stream in Johore, Malaysia with Cryptocoryne schulzei. coll. Jacobsen NJM 01-11 photo Jacobsen	The species is also found in a small river between plantations. coll. Bastmeijer 800 photo Bastmeijer	Flowering C. schulzei in very shallow water. Note the marmorated leaves. coll. Hildebrand s.n .photo Hildebrand	The limb of the spathe is yellow but is generally overexposed in the shaded environment. coll. Hildebrand s.n .photo Hildebrand
Cryptocoryne schulzei in the natural habitat in Johore. Note the broad limb and the dark brown throat of the spathe. coll. Schulze photo Schulze	The limb of the spathe is recurved for almost 90 degree. coll. Jacobsen NJM 01-12 photo Jacobsen	More narrow leaves are found in running water. coll. Jacobsen NJM 01-12 photo Jacobsen	A typical spathe with the the throat opening perpendicular to the tube. coll. Jacobsen NJM 01-11 photo Jacobsen
A cultivated C. schulzei with a more bright throat. coll. Bogner 1943 photo Jacobsen	From the same collection as left. The leaves are smooth with transverse lines (marmorated). Note the broad limb and the small bend tail. coll. Bogner 1943 photo Jacobsen	Again the same plant. The limb is a bit rough, the throat very dark. coll. Bogner 1943 photo Jacobsen	A fresh opened spathe with the tail still upright. Note the top of the (short) tube a bit bend, the opening of the spathe appearing sideward. unknown collection photo van Wijngaarden
A spotted throat of the spathe and even green leaves of a plant cultivated by Sigezo. unknown collection photo Sigezo	Young mottled leaves may appear on this plant. unknown collection photo Sigezo	A concolor spathe, the brown to red color of the throat is absent. This is known in more species of Cryptocoryne and Lagenandra. unknown collection photo Yamaoka	The limb of the spathe is generally more warted, this one is rather smooth. unknown collection photo Yamaoka
A side view of the bud of the spathe. The bulging fission promises a broad limb, like in C. nurii. coll. Jacobsen NJM 04-22 photo Bastmeijer	A rather rugose limb of the spathe. coll. Jacobsen NJM 04-22 photo Bastmeijer	The wide, pronounced collar is clearly visible. coll. Jacobsen NJM 04-22 photo Bastmeijer	A nearly ellipsoid kettle with at the bottom the 6 female flowers and at the top of the spadix the male flowers (the spadix is damaged caused by handling). coll. Jacobsen NJM 04-22 photo Bastmeijer
Female flowers showing the emarginate top of the stigma's. coll. Jacobsen NJM 04-22 photo Bastmeijer	The TYPE specimen of C. schulzei as collected by Schulze in 1970. herbarium Wageningen (WAG)	Drawing in de Wit (1990) of C. schulzei. Note the relative long tube and the rather long tail of the limb. drawing Ike Zewald	Distribution of C. schulzei in Johore (W.Malaysia) and Sumatra (Indeonesia). In the same area in Johore also grow C. nurii, C. cordata and C. griffithii.

Though Cryptocoryne schulzei is imported quite often today , there are very few records of success in cultivation. The plant is not well suited for the aquarium.

Updated July 2012

Literature:

Arends, J.C., Bastmeijer, J.D. & Jacobsen, N., 1982. Chromosome numbers and taxonomy in Cryptocoryne (Araceae).II. Nord.J.Bot. 2 : 453-463.
Jacobsen, N., 1982. Cryptocorynen. Alfred Kernen Verlag, Stuttgart.
Jacobsen, N. & J.Bogner, 1987. Die Cryptocorynen der Malaiischen Halbinsel (3. Teil). Aqua-Planta 2-87 : 56-60.
Kasselmann, C., 1995. Aquarienpflanzen. Ulmer, Stuttgart.
Rataj, K., 1975. Revision of the genus Cryptocoryne Fischer. Studie CSAV, c.3.Praha.
Rataj, K. & Horeman, T.J., 1977. Aquarium Plants. TFH Publ, USA.
Sadilek, V., 1981. Sind die malayischen Cryptocorynen Problempflanzen? Aqua-Planta 3-81 : 76-78.
Wit, H.C.D.de, 1971. Het genus Cryptocoryne (23), Een nieuwe Crypto uit Johore, Cryptocoryne schulzei. Het Aquarium 42(1) : 14-15.
Wit, H.C.D.de, 1973. Die Aquariumpflanzen in Wort und Bild, Lief. 18 : 341-346.
Wit, H.C.D.de, 1990. Aquarienpflanzen, 2. Auflage. Ulmer, Stuttgart. ISBN 3-8001-7185-6.