In 2002 Mr. Yuji Sasaki from the Rayon Vert Aquarium, Kumamoto, Japan, collected this
species in Sarawak, South West of Simmangan (Sri Aman). As he said, Mr. Ueno from Japan
found C. uenoi already in 2001, but it was not recognized as a new species
because the leaves of the plant are quite look like C. keei.
Because of the extreme low water level in 2002, Sasaki found flowering plants. It is quite
amazing that this new species could be found in such a well investigated area.
Click on the picture to get the full image (ca 50 kB)
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Habitus of C. uenoi. Note the irregular
bullated leaves (only a few).
coll. Sasaki M-SUSK
photo Sasaki |
The spatha has the lower part buried in the
ground. This may be simply by the deposition of soil.
coll. Sasaki M-SUSK
photo Sasaki |
In this rather wide, muddy stream you would
never find the plant unless the water level is low.
coll. Sasaki M-SUSK
photo Sasaki |
Detail of the stream with an emersed sandbank
covered with C. uenoi. Crypts do like sandbanks.
coll. Sasaki M-SUSK
photo Sasaki |
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Close-up of the limb of the spathe. Note the toothed
margin. The collar is hardly visible.
coll. Sasaki M-SUSK
photo Sasaki |
Another spathe of C. uenoi. The leaf on
the background shows some variegated markings.
coll. Sasaki M-SUSK
photo Sasaki |
The color of the leaves may vary from green with
distinct markings (see left picture) to brown.
coll. Sasaki M-SUSK
photo Sasaki |
The leaf has a pointed apex (acute) and cordate
base. The depressions in the leaf are rather irregular.
coll. Sasaki M-SUSK
photo Sasaki |
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The main vein of the leaf may be a bit pale
creamish in color. Size of the leaf up to 12 x 4 cm.
coll. Sasaki M-SUSK
photo Sasaki |
The lower part of the tube (kettle) is inside
whitish. The male flowers show a brown ring.
coll. Sasaki M-SUSK
photo Sasaki |
Type material of C. uenoi that is
deposited in the Leiden herbarium (L).
coll. Sasaki M-SUSK |
Distribution of C. uenoi just South
West from Simmangan (Sarawak). |
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Cryptocoryne uenoi is not so easy to cultivate, as far as we know today. For
that reason, the chromosome number is not known yet.
Updated January 2003
Literature
Sasaki, Y., 2002. Cryptocoryne uenoi Y. Sasaki (Araceae), eine neue Art aus Sarawak. Aqua
Planta 27(4): 147-149.
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