Hi all,

I am hoping that someone out there may be able to identify this plant (see photos).

It is extremely slow growing, and has got no bigger in the 11 years I have had it. I have grown it in a variety of tanks and it remains exactly the same - from very low light tank (only natural light, with a couple of hours every second day of a 30w T8), to a moderately high light tank with 4 x 54w T5 tubes on every day.

It has a growth habit similiar to crypts, that is, it multiplies via thick roots running, as opposed to val and chain swords that send out a very fine runner (hopefully you will understand the distinction - I can't seem to word it any better!)

It partially melts when moved into a different tank. The leaves are maximum length of 25mm, although typically around 15-20mm. The leaves have a tendency to grow horizontally. The colour difference in the photos is due to the lighting environment where the photo was taken. Older plants develop a 'tuber/rhizome' very similiar to crypts.

Thanks

IMO it looks like a Dwarf Chain Sword.

Looks like a crypt to me, but I can't tell you which one I'm afraid.

I agree, definitely a crypt, but unless I saw it flower or was able to compare it directly beside some of mine it will be near impossible to say what sort.

I have one that is similar but I have no ideas as to its ID at this stage.

Can I ask where you got this from? It may help to establish its identity.

C. nevilli or C. nevilli nevilli? Haven't aseen it for many years and hope that is what it is. It is small, slow growing and has the characteristic spade leaf.

Better get one to the man so he can flower it.

Looks to me like Cryptocoryne Parva.

Any new photos of its growth? If it stays that small then it will be some type of dwarf crypt, however I'm thinking it may just be pups of C. willisii. If it is C. nevillii or C. parva then I'd be interested in buying some off you when it you have some spare

It looks like a beautiful plant for an aquarium and thats about all I know, its a wonder my tank looks like a forest with my amount of knowlegde

I saw a C.parva at hff the other week.

Did you buy it? :bounce:

Lutea?

Lutea?

Its not C. walkeri "lutea".

Even in submersed form the red colouration in the stems is quite obvious.

http://crypts.home.xs4all.nl/Cryptocoryne/Gallery/wal/wal.html

It looks like C. parva but the only real way to know is to flower it

http://crypts.home.xs4all.nl/Cryptocoryne/Gallery/par/par.html

It does look like C.parva. I didn't know it was in the country but I had grown nevilli and nevilli nevillii many moons ago with candles and mirrors (perhaps hope took over from reason). It was imported by Bob Ward from Redwoodwood Aquatics but I hadn't seen it in years (he had lost it as well). Most Crypts from there will tolerate a wide range of conditions as the water can be very hard.

Any new photos of its growth? If it stays that small then it will be some type of dwarf crypt, however I'm thinking it may just be pups of C. willisii. If it is C. nevillii or C. parva then I'd be interested in buying some off you when it you have some spare

Hey Joe,

no new photos of it's growth. In fact, if I showed you a photo of the exact same plant 10 years apart it would look identical in each photo! :slfg:

It most definitely is not a pup of any crypt, the photos are of an adult plant that is many years old.

I plan on putting more effort into this crypt over the next year or two, and have just planted 4 pups that I hope are this crypt. I always knew this plant was special, but only recently have I given it more serious thought.

Loaches are the enemy of this plant, they either dig it up or bury it, in their inquisitive way.

Would be happy to send some plants out once I have got a few more, I don't have many now and would hate to lose one in the post! &c:ry