Cryptocoryne
Encyclopedia
Cryptocoryne is a genus
of about 50-60 species of aquatic
monocot
plant
s from the family Araceae
(arums). The genus is naturally distributed in tropical
regions of Asia
and New Guinea
.
The typical habitat
s of Cryptocoryne are mostly streams and rivers with not too rapidly flowing water, in the lowland forest. They also live in seasonally inundated forest pools or on river banks submerged only at high water. Although the proper scientific name of the genus is Cryptocoryne, they are commonly referred to as crypts. The English name "water trumpet" refers to their inflorescence
, a spadix
enclosed by a spathe
(typical for the whole family), which resembles a trumpet.
The first Cryptocoryne species was described in 1779 as Arum spirale by Retzius
. The genus was described by Friedrich Ernst Ludwig von Fischer
in 1828. However, the scientific classification
of Cryptocoryne species is very complicated and there are different opinions about it. Lagenandra
is another genus closely related to the genus Cryptocoryne. The two can be easily told apart since the leaves of Cryptocorynes exhibit convolute vernation whereas Lagenandra
s exhibit involute vernation.
The name Cryptocoryne is derived from the Latin crypto, meaning hidden, and the Greek koryne, meaning club. The common name (Watertrumpet) refers to the shape of its inflorescence, which is typical of the Arum family.
plants. Submerged plants reproduce vegetatively
, emerse plants may flower
and reproduce sexually
. Many species are cultivated only by dedicated experts and are very hard to grow, or are not present in a culture at all. Some species are endangered
because their natural habitats are disappearing. On the other hand, some water trumpets (eg. Cryptocoryne beckettii) are very hardy aquarium plants, easy to grow to the point that they have become an invasive species
after being introduced in Florida
in North America
.
Some of the Cryptocorynes are generally the easier ones to keep (in fact, some species, such as Cryptocorynes wendtii are said to be among the most versatile of aquarium plants); they require low to moderate light (but can grow faster in more intense light), a temperature range of around 20 to 33 °C, and slightly acidic or neutral pH
, though they can adapt to higher pH as well. In contrast to accepted aquarium wisdom, it thrives well in calcareous water. Many modern aquariums may be too well lit for crypts to thrive.
Plants of the genus Cryptocoryne, which range from India to New Guinea are found in very diverse conditions. Some are true acid loving plants such as C. grabowski, found in peat bogs in Borneo, while others such as C. balansae and C. pontiderifolia are found in streams with limestone beds - hard alkaline water. One species, C. ciliata is even found in semi brackish water in some areas. It is one of the few aquarium plants that tolerates salt concentrations that would almost certainly kill other aquarium plants.
There has been an extensive revision of the genus by Jacobsen and many names aquarists are familiar with have been changed. Crypts also have an annoying (to taxonomists!) tendency to hybridize freely in nature and there are a handful of "species" found in nature that are hybrids. Together with the fact that some species show a large variability (C. wendtii) and can only be properly identified by the flowering spathe, this makes it difficult to identify some species solely on leaf habit.
Cryptocoryne plants have been in cultivation in the aquarium hobby since the late 18th century, although it was not until the 1960 s that more than a handful of species were known and became more common in the hobby. New species still regularly crop up as interest in these plants widens and more collecting expeditions by private parties are carried out.
Crypts are of commercial importance in the pet trade and have escaped into the wild in America, Jamaica, and other places. Texas and Florida both have stands of well established populations and these are considered invasive weeds with no known methods of control.
Rapid environmental changes is thought to trigger this, as these plants don't seem to adapt well to transplantion, and may need thirty days or so to become established and for the leaves to regrow. Experienced growers report that it is better to plant crypts in aquariums that have been established for at least three months.
In the wild, Crypts can grow fully submerged underwater, but in Oriental nurseries they are often grown emersed and crypt melt could then be triggered by the change from emerse to submerse conditions.
There is lately a trend for such nurseries to send crypts as just a rootstock (ie. without the leaves to reduce shipping costs and because the leaves will be lost anyway once planted in an aquarium.
Other reports, eg.
emphasise the need to change the aquarium water regularly to prevent the build up of nitrates which are thought to trigger this condition (often referred to as a disease)
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of about 50-60 species of aquatic
Aquatic plant
Aquatic plants are plants that have adapted to living in aquatic environments. They are also referred to as hydrophytes or aquatic macrophytes. These plants require special adaptations for living submerged in water, or at the water's surface. Aquatic plants can only grow in water or in soil that is...
monocot
Monocotyledon
Monocotyledons, also known as monocots, are one of two major groups of flowering plants that are traditionally recognized, the other being dicotyledons, or dicots. Monocot seedlings typically have one cotyledon , in contrast to the two cotyledons typical of dicots...
plant
Plant
Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
s from the family Araceae
Araceae
Araceae are a family of monocotyledonous flowering plants in which flowers are borne on a type of inflorescence called a spadix. The spadix is usually accompanied by, and sometimes partially enclosed in, a spathe or leaf-like bract. Also known as the Arum family, members are often colloquially...
(arums). The genus is naturally distributed in tropical
Tropics
The tropics is a region of the Earth surrounding the Equator. It is limited in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere at approximately N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere at S; these latitudes correspond to the axial tilt of the Earth...
regions of Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
and New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
.
The typical habitat
Habitat (ecology)
A habitat is an ecological or environmental area that is inhabited by a particular species of animal, plant or other type of organism...
s of Cryptocoryne are mostly streams and rivers with not too rapidly flowing water, in the lowland forest. They also live in seasonally inundated forest pools or on river banks submerged only at high water. Although the proper scientific name of the genus is Cryptocoryne, they are commonly referred to as crypts. The English name "water trumpet" refers to their inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
, a spadix
Spadix
In botany, a spadix is a type of spike inflorescence having small flowers borne on a fleshy stem. Spadix are typical of the Family Araceae known as arums or aroids...
enclosed by a spathe
Spadix
In botany, a spadix is a type of spike inflorescence having small flowers borne on a fleshy stem. Spadix are typical of the Family Araceae known as arums or aroids...
(typical for the whole family), which resembles a trumpet.
The first Cryptocoryne species was described in 1779 as Arum spirale by Retzius
Anders Jahan Retzius
Anders Jahan Retzius was a Swedish chemist, botanist and entomologist.-Biography:Born in Kristianstad, he matriculated at Lund University in 1758, where he graduated as a filosofie magister in 1766. He also trained as an apothecary apprentice. He reveived the position of docent of chemistry at...
. The genus was described by Friedrich Ernst Ludwig von Fischer
Friedrich Ernst Ludwig von Fischer
Friedrich Ernst Ludwig Fischer was a Russian botanist, born in Germany. He was director of the St Petersburg botanical garden from 1823 to 1850....
in 1828. However, the scientific classification
Biological classification
Biological classification, or scientific classification in biology, is a method to group and categorize organisms by biological type, such as genus or species. Biological classification is part of scientific taxonomy....
of Cryptocoryne species is very complicated and there are different opinions about it. Lagenandra
Lagenandra
Lagenandra is a genus of flowering plants in the Araceae family. It consists of 16 species of plants that are endemic to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and India. The genus is similar to Cryptocoryne, but can be distinguished from it by its involute vernation...
is another genus closely related to the genus Cryptocoryne. The two can be easily told apart since the leaves of Cryptocorynes exhibit convolute vernation whereas Lagenandra
Lagenandra
Lagenandra is a genus of flowering plants in the Araceae family. It consists of 16 species of plants that are endemic to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and India. The genus is similar to Cryptocoryne, but can be distinguished from it by its involute vernation...
s exhibit involute vernation.
The name Cryptocoryne is derived from the Latin crypto, meaning hidden, and the Greek koryne, meaning club. The common name (Watertrumpet) refers to the shape of its inflorescence, which is typical of the Arum family.
Selected species
- Cryptocoryne affinisCryptocoryne affinis-Description:Long lanceolate leaves 6-12 inches long with an attractive bluish-green upper surface, a light green midrib and side nerves. The underside of the leaves is a deep reddish purple. The leaf stems are short in proportion to the leaf blade....
- Cryptocoryne aponogetifoliaCryptocoryne aponogetifoliaCryptocoryne aponogetifolia is a species belonging to the Aroid genus Cryptocoryne.-Distribution:The species is found in the Philippines, on the islands Negros and Panay and the south-east of Luzon.-Description:...
- Cryptocoryne auriculataCryptocoryne auriculata-Distribution:Borneo and Philippines ?In nature, C. auriculata grows between stones, which indicates that the water is running fast in the rainy season. -Description:...
- Cryptocoryne beckettiiCryptocoryne beckettii-Distribution:Sri Lanka, found in freshwater springs and rivers.-Distribution:Sri Lanka, found in freshwater springs and rivers.-Distribution:Sri Lanka, found in freshwater springs and rivers.(It is not clear which plants sold in the aquarium trade under this name are the true species.Probably due...
- Cryptocoryne bogneri
- Cryptocoryne bullosa
- Cryptocoryne ciliata
- Cryptocoryne cognata
- Cryptocoryne cordata
- Cryptocoryne crispatula
- Cryptocoryne dewitiiCryptocoryne dewitiiCryptocoryne dewitii is a plant species belonging to the Aroid genus Cryptocoryne. It was first described in 1977 from dried herbarium material and named in honor of the Dutch botanist Hendrik de Wit....
- Cryptocoryne griffithii
- Cryptocoryne lingua
- Cryptocoryne longicauda
- Cryptocoryne mekongensisCryptocoryne mekongensisCryptocoryne mekongensis is a species belonging to the Aroid genus Cryptocoryne that was described in 2010.-Distribution:The species is found in the Mekong region of southern Laos and Cambodia.-Description:...
- Cryptocoryne minima
- Cryptocoryne parva
- Cryptocoryne pontederiifolia
- Cryptocoryne purpurea
- Cryptocoryne retrospiralis
- Cryptocoryne spiralis
- Cryptocoryne thwaitesii
- Cryptocoryne undulataCryptocoryne undulata-Taxonomy:In the literature of the 60's this plant was considered a form of C. willisii but see the cryptocoryne page for a discussion of the name change and the 'diploid and 'triploid' forms.-Description:...
- Cryptocoryne usteriana
- Cryptocoryne walkeriCryptocoryne walkeri-Description:C. walkeri has a more rigid and upright structure than most other Cryptocorynes. It grows to be 12–15 cm with a width of 8 cm.-Cultivation:...
- Cryptocoryne walkeri 'lutea'Cryptocoryne walkeri-Description:C. walkeri has a more rigid and upright structure than most other Cryptocorynes. It grows to be 12–15 cm with a width of 8 cm.-Cultivation:...
- Cryptocoryne wendtiiCryptocoryne wendtiiCryptocoryne wendtii is a species of herb which is a popular aquarium plant which is native to Sri Lanka. It was described by Dutch botanist Hendrik de Wit in honour of aquarium hobbyist and writer Albert Wendt.-Distribution:...
- Cryptocoryne x willisii
Cultivation and uses
Some water trumpets are popular commercially cultivated aquariumAquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
plants. Submerged plants reproduce vegetatively
Vegetative reproduction
Vegetative reproduction is a form of asexual reproduction in plants. It is a process by which new individuals arise without production of seeds or spores...
, emerse plants may flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
and reproduce sexually
Sexual reproduction
Sexual reproduction is the creation of a new organism by combining the genetic material of two organisms. There are two main processes during sexual reproduction; they are: meiosis, involving the halving of the number of chromosomes; and fertilization, involving the fusion of two gametes and the...
. Many species are cultivated only by dedicated experts and are very hard to grow, or are not present in a culture at all. Some species are endangered
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
because their natural habitats are disappearing. On the other hand, some water trumpets (eg. Cryptocoryne beckettii) are very hardy aquarium plants, easy to grow to the point that they have become an invasive species
Invasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
after being introduced in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
Some of the Cryptocorynes are generally the easier ones to keep (in fact, some species, such as Cryptocorynes wendtii are said to be among the most versatile of aquarium plants); they require low to moderate light (but can grow faster in more intense light), a temperature range of around 20 to 33 °C, and slightly acidic or neutral pH
PH
In chemistry, pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Pure water is said to be neutral, with a pH close to 7.0 at . Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline...
, though they can adapt to higher pH as well. In contrast to accepted aquarium wisdom, it thrives well in calcareous water. Many modern aquariums may be too well lit for crypts to thrive.
Plants of the genus Cryptocoryne, which range from India to New Guinea are found in very diverse conditions. Some are true acid loving plants such as C. grabowski, found in peat bogs in Borneo, while others such as C. balansae and C. pontiderifolia are found in streams with limestone beds - hard alkaline water. One species, C. ciliata is even found in semi brackish water in some areas. It is one of the few aquarium plants that tolerates salt concentrations that would almost certainly kill other aquarium plants.
There has been an extensive revision of the genus by Jacobsen and many names aquarists are familiar with have been changed. Crypts also have an annoying (to taxonomists!) tendency to hybridize freely in nature and there are a handful of "species" found in nature that are hybrids. Together with the fact that some species show a large variability (C. wendtii) and can only be properly identified by the flowering spathe, this makes it difficult to identify some species solely on leaf habit.
Cryptocoryne plants have been in cultivation in the aquarium hobby since the late 18th century, although it was not until the 1960 s that more than a handful of species were known and became more common in the hobby. New species still regularly crop up as interest in these plants widens and more collecting expeditions by private parties are carried out.
Crypts are of commercial importance in the pet trade and have escaped into the wild in America, Jamaica, and other places. Texas and Florida both have stands of well established populations and these are considered invasive weeds with no known methods of control.
Crypt melt
A phenomenon often encountered when planting new crypts in an aquarium is commonly called Crypt melt, whereby the plant loses all its leaves. There seem to be two possible causes for this.Rapid environmental changes is thought to trigger this, as these plants don't seem to adapt well to transplantion, and may need thirty days or so to become established and for the leaves to regrow. Experienced growers report that it is better to plant crypts in aquariums that have been established for at least three months.
In the wild, Crypts can grow fully submerged underwater, but in Oriental nurseries they are often grown emersed and crypt melt could then be triggered by the change from emerse to submerse conditions.
There is lately a trend for such nurseries to send crypts as just a rootstock (ie. without the leaves to reduce shipping costs and because the leaves will be lost anyway once planted in an aquarium.
Other reports, eg.
emphasise the need to change the aquarium water regularly to prevent the build up of nitrates which are thought to trigger this condition (often referred to as a disease)