In 1985, Jacobsen and Bogner were able to rediscover the tiny Cryptocoryne
elliptica in the forest, West of Penang on the Malay peninsula. It grows in the
swamps of the Pondok-Tanjung Forest Reserve, together with Cryptocoryne minima.
Click on the picture to get the full image (ca. 50 kB)
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A full grown, cultivated C.
elliptica, growing in a beech tree litter substrate. Note the bent down top of the
limb, a common feature in Cryptocoryne.
photo Jacobsen |
A cultivated C. elliptica producing dozens of small spathes, but no one matures. |
A striking difference in luxury
growth due to substrate. In the pot a granite soil from Sweden, in the container a pure
beech tree litter layer
photo Jacobsen |
An abundantly flowering C.
elliptica, cultivated in beech tree litter (the color of the picture is too bluish).
Note the curved limbs of the spathe.
photo Jacobsen |
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Another picture of this very rare Cryptocoryne. Note again the typical twisted limb.
photo Jacobsen |
A very special feature of C.
elliptica is that it can propagate from a leave. See Jacobsen et al. (1989).
photo Jacobsen |
A detailed drawing of C.
elliptica is found in de Wit (1990).
drawing Ike Zewald |
Distribution of C. elliptica in West Malaysia. The plant grows abundantly in the Pondok-Tanjung Forest Reserve. |
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Cryptocoryne elliptica is a difficult plant to grow. After a period of
successes, the plants disappeared. Honors to Hans Erhl from Germany, who has a stable
stock of it.
Updated August 2000
Literature
Bogner, J. & Jacobsen, N., 1986. Cryptocoryne elliptica Hooker f. Aqua-Planta 2-86
: 48-50.
Bogner, J. & Jacobsen, N., 1986. Cryptocoryne elliptica Hooker f. DATZ 39 : 523-524.
Bogner, J., 1995. Die systematische Stellung der Gattung Cryptocoryne (Araceae) und
Bemerkungen zu einem neuen System der Araceae Aqua-Planta 4-95 : 152-159.
Engler, A., 1920. (Cryptocoryne, Lagenandra in) Das Pflanzenreich IV.23.F. Araceae -
Aroideae : 232-249, Leipzig
Hooker, J.D., 1893. (Cryptocoryne, Lagenandra in) Flora of British India 6 : 492-496.
Jacobsen, N., 1982. Cryptocorynen. Alfred Kernen Verlag, Stuttgart.
Jacobsen, N., 1986. Deterioration of the habitats of the Cryptocoryne species.
Symp.Bedreiging van het aquatisch milieu, Ludwigia, Wageningen : 33.
Jacobsen, N. & J.Bogner, 1986. Die Cryptocorynen der Malaiischen Halbinsel (1.Teil).
Aqua-Planta 4-86 : 135-139.
Jacobsen, N., M.Sivadasan & J.Bogner, 1989. Ungewöhnliche vegetative Vermehrung bei
der Gattung Cryptocoryne (Teil 1). Aqua-Planta 3-89 : 83-88.
Jacobsen, N., M.Sivadasan & J.Bogner, 1989. Ungewöhnliche vegetatieve Vermehrung bei
der Gattung Cryptocoryne (Teil 2). Aqua-Planta 4-89 : 127-132.
Jacobsen, N., 1992. Die Kultur einiger schwieriger Cryptocoryne-Arten in Buchenlauberde.
Aqua-Planta 1-92 : 18-25.
Mansor, M., M.Masnadi, 1994. Cryptocoryne elliptica, an endangered amphibious plant in
Pondok-Tanjung Forest Reserve, Peninsular Malaysia. Aquatic Botany 47(1) : 91-96.
Mansor, M and B. Sulaiman, 1997. Notes on Araceae of the Pondok Tanjon Forest Reserve,
Peninsular Malaysia (abstract). Tropical Biodiversity 4(2): 209-213.
Möhlmann, F., 1988. Ein interessanter Wasserkelch : Cryptocoryne elliptica Hooker f.
Aqua-Planta 3-88 : 110-112.
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.
Ridley, H.N., 1907. Cryptocoryne, Fisch. Materials for a Flora of the Malayan Peninsula :
3-6.
Ridley, H.N., 1925. Cryptocoryne. Fl. Malay Pen. 5 : 86-88.
Wit, H.C.D.de, 1961. Het genus Cryptocoryne (15), Cryptocoryne cruddasiana Prain en C.
elliptica N.E. Brown. Het Aquarium 31(8) : 180-181.
Wit, H.C.D.de, 1990. Aquarienpflanzen, 2. Auflage. Ulmer, Stuttgart. ISBN 3-8001-7185-6.
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