Collecting Cryptocorynes

2010_Malaysia

C. minima

Cryprocoryne minima was found growing inclined on a river back. The leaves were emersed when found, but were developed submerse. Several flowers were found, purple spotted as is normal, but also some pure white ones with only a light purple collar.


2012_Laos

C. crispatula var. balansae

Like all grassy leaved forms, is found in shallow fast flowing water.


2012-Malaysia

C. schulzei

C. schulzei found growing under a bridge after the local area was disturbed wiping out all the shade trees.


2012_Singapore

An unknown hybrid

Deep in the forest a plant suspected of being C. griffithi was found, which proved to be a hybrid. It's not certain what the parents are, best guesses are C. griffithi and either C. nuri or C. schulzei


2013_Malaysia

C. affinis


2014_Borneo

C. ciliata

C. ciliata is found growing in the brackish waters around Sarawak in Borneo.


2014_Singapore

C. x timahensis

This is a significant plant in many ways, first it appears to have been put where it is by man, second, it's not from there but from Malaysia, third it's a naturally occurring hybrid and while we know od many today, this was rather shocking when it was described.

Patrick Blanc had been visiting the jungles of Singapore (and other Cryptocoryne habitats in Asia) since the 1980s. In 1991 he found this plant in one forest pool in the Bukit Timah Forest Reserve. It matched no species known, so Blanc deposited a herbarium sheet in a Singapore museum.

Blanc also noticed that while thre were many flowers he did not ever see a seed pod. When the pollen was analysed it was found to all be defective - the pant is functionally sterile. The problem is the parents are not found nearby but in Malaysia.

The plant is found only in a pool formed by a small dam built by the Japanese in WII. Blanc reports that in the 1950s Huitma, a specialist in gingers, moved some plants there from Malaysia, around Johor, so they may exist there is logging has not wiped them all out.


2015_Thailand

C. cordata siamensis and C. albida

C. cordata can be found above the water line in places where the water dries up a little, but gets larger when grown submrsed in deeper water.

C. albida is a rheophyte, not found growing in water but growing above the water line. Unusual for a Cryptocoryne, it is found growing in fill sun and found here growing in granitic rock with its roots firmly embedded in cracks in thr rocks - not displaced by fast flowing water.


2017_Thailand

C. ciliata and C. crispatula var crispatula


2018_Borneo

C. longicauda


2018_Myanmar

C. crudisiana

The elusive and poorly known C. crudisiana is fond in green, tiger striped and brown forms. The spathe has a metallic silvery tube with a nearly black opening.


2019_Malaysia

C. elliptica


2019_Vietnam

C. crispatula var crispatula and C. crispatula var. balansae

C. crispatula var. balansae and Barclaya longifolia are found togetrher in a forest pool. Both are dark brown forms of plants that are usually green.


Introduction

Patrick Blanc explains his background and lifelong love for Cryptocoryne, and his formal training - his PhD is in the family Cryptocorynes are in.