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Structures in Cryptocoryne: the spathe |
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See also the Structures pages: Foliage, rhizome and roots, Inside the kettle and SEM
pictures
The spathe consists of a lower cylindrical part, named the kettle, and an upper leaf blade which is cylindrical folded and closed with a seam. The latter forms the tube and the limb of the spathe. At ripening the upper part loosens and shows its attractive structure and colour: the limb of the spathe. Sometimes it happens that also the tube seam (partly) loosens. Besides its beauty, the limb also emits - depending on the species - a dirty smell. Depending on your nose, you may smell rotten fish or a dead horse.
The opening of the limb goes very fast. It happens in a quarter of an hour, at me mostly in the late night. See the MOVIE of the opening of the limb at C. spiralis var. spiralis
Click on the picture to enlarge, click on the NAME to go to the page
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The limb still being closed.
C. cordata var. cordata
coll. JS, cult. B1403
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Both limbs have a raised rim on the lower part, called the collar. The collar zone below has a different texture and is often of a different colour.
C. beckettii
coll. unknown, cult B 92, 663 |
This species lacks the elevated rim and the collar zone has the same colour.
C. cordata var. siamensis
coll. unknown, cult B 16 |
The collar is very high, almost reaching the margin of the limb.
C. pontederiifolia
coll. unknown, cult B 32
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The whole spathe is very short, about 1,5 cm. C. parva coll. unknown, cult. B 47 |
This limb is ca. 25 cm long. The is no tube and the kettle is buried in the soil.
C. spiralis var. cognatoides
coll. Yadav327, cult. B 669
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A number of species has a "tail", a thread form elongation of the limb, in this species bend forward after opening. This tail is ca. 15 cm.
C. longicauda
coll. unknown, cult. W 21
photo van Wijngaarden |
Many species have a twisted limb of the spathe. Both the left and right hand twist occurs. This is normal but almost nobody notices it.
C. fusca
coll. Tomey, cult. W 20
photo van Wijngaarden
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This limb has many turns and it can be even more. C. retrospiralis
coll. _FW I08-04, cult. B 1211 |
But it can also been reduced to one or less. C. crispatula var. yunnanensis
coll. TMK-01A, cult. B 1148 |
The surface of the limb of C. spiralis var. spiralis has more or less pronounced tranverse ridges. The margin of the limb has irregular outgrowths. coll. Cook, cult B 554 |
This limb has very regular bulges. The swollen collar is typical for this species.
C. griffithii
coll. YS I-BISL, cult B 931 |
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This limb is fully covered with irregular outgrowths.
C. nurii var. nurii
coll. KN IL-06, cult. B 1259 |
An unique feature, branched thread-like outgrowths along the margin. Only seen in C. ciliata.
coll. SW 0601, cult.B 1161 |
Also unique in Cryptocoryne are hairs. Seen in C. villosa.
coll. HK 0903, cult. B 1298 |
The spathe stands (mostly) on a short stalk, named the peduncle. In this case the plant was grown submerged. The ruler is in cm. C. usteriana
coll. Morco, cult. CK
photo Kettner |
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See also the Structure pages: Foliage, rhizome and roots, Inside the kettle and SEM
pictures
Updated February 2016
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