Cryptocoryne spiralis

Cryptocoryne spiralis (Retzius) Wydler

Cryptocoryne spiralis is a common plant in India, where it grows even 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 common in the related genus Lagenandra. Be aware that there are many different forms of C. spiralis. See also the page for C. spiralis var. cognatoides.

^{Click on the picture to get the full image (ca 50 k)}


C. spiralis can also propagate by division of the rhizome. In this way there grow big stands of plants. Note the tip of the spathe. unknown coll., cult. B 603 photo Bastmeijer	The leaves can have a brown margin or can be full brown. The margin is sometimes slight undulated. unknown coll., cult. B 116 photo Bastmeijer	The spathe puts only the limb out of the soil. The margins of the limb are strong denticulate. The limb varies in color from red to yellow and always has transverse rims. unknown coll., cult. NJ 1671 photo Jacobsen	Mostly the limb of the spathe is slight twisted. unknown coll., cult. NJ 1671 photo Jacobsen


An unusual bent spathe. unknown coll., cult. B 636 photo Bastmeijer	A rather common formed spathe. Note the lacking 'tube'. unknown coll., cult. B 116 photo Bastmeijer	A quite yellow form. unknown coll., cult. W (=B 636) photo van Wijngaarden	A long, wide opened limb of the spathe. coll. de Wit 35395 (WAG) photo Jacobsen


A more or less 'tailed' limb of the spathe. unknown coll., cult. NJ photo Jacobsen	The stigma's are typical for C. spiralis. unknown coll., cult. B 116 photo Bastmeijer	The inside color of the kettle varies from white to deep red in the upper part. unknown coll., cult. B 636 photo Bastmeijer	The septum just above the male flowers has a narrow circular hole. coll. Cook '5', cult. B 404 photo Bastmeijer


A typical habitat of C. spiralis growing in a dry meadow, after the rice harvest. Kerala, photo Bogner	Variation in spathes of C. spiralis from one locality. Note that the kettle is always below the surface. Kerala, photo Bogner	C. spiralis growing in the Western Ghats in India. photo Raj	Detail of the picture left (non flowering plant). photo Raj


Drawing in te Beest (1998) of C. spiralis.	Drawing in de Wit (1990) of C. spiralis.	Drawing in de Wit (1990) of C. huegelii.	Distribution of C. spiralis.

Cryptocoryne 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.
Long time, C. cognatoides was not well understood. As it is recollected, it proved to close to C. spiralis. Now it is named C. spiralis var. cognatoides.

Jan D.Bastmeijer, update January 2002

Literature: (this is a rather long list, reflecting the 'long history' of this plant, from 1830 ! )

Arends, J.C., Bastmeijer, J.D. & Jacobsen, N., 1982. Chromosome numbers and taxonomy in Cryptocoryne (Araceae).II. Nord.J.Bot. 2 : 453-463.
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Blatter E. & C.McCann, 1931. Revision of the Flora of the Bombay Presidency. J.Bomb.Nat.H.Soc. 35 : 13-17, t.I+II.
Bogner, J., 1974. Reisindrukken uit India en Ceylon. Het Aquarium 44(8) : 210-213.
Bogner, J. & Jacobsen, N., 1987. Die systematische Stellung von Lagenandra gomezii (Schott) Bogner et Jacobsen, comb.nov. Aqua-Planta 2-87 : 43-50.
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