Form of Anubias barteri

Anubias minima

Anubias barteri var. glabra

One of 24 forms of Anubias barteri · See all forms →

Also known as Anubias barteri var. glabra 'Minima', Anubias 'Kruising', Anubias glabra, Anubias lanceolata, Anubias angustifolia, Anubias angustapoglia, Anubias apheli, Anubias barteri var. angustifolia, Anubias lanceolata f. angustifolia, Anubias heterophylla 'Lanceolata'

FreshwaterBrackishRhizomeRhizome division

Forms · Anubias barteri

See all 24

Care at a glance

Light
Low light
CO2
No CO₂ needed
Temperature
72–82°F
22–28°C
Max height
7.9 in
20 cm
Growth rate
Slow
Placement
Epiphyte
Type
Rhizome
pH
5.0–8.0
Hardness
2–15 dGH
Spread
5.9 in (15 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root + water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Easy
Family
Araceae
Origin
West Africa (Guinea to Gabon)

Overview

Tie or glue the rhizome to wood or rock and keep it above the substrate to avoid rot. It grows to around 10 to 20 cm with a spreading habit, making a useful narrow-leaf accent for the midground or larger hardscape. It is very easy, slow growing, tolerant of low light and hard or soft water, and needs no CO2, though moderate light fills it out a bit more.

In the wild

The plant sold as Anubias minima grows wild in West Africa from Guinea to Gabon, sitting on rocks in the flood zones of rainforest streams where water level rises and falls. It is an epiphyte that anchors to hardscape rather than rooting in soil, and it tolerates both submersed and emersed conditions.

Good to know

The trade name Anubias minima refers to small plants imported from Cameroon that are botanically Anubias barteri var. glabra, since Chevalier's original name Anubias minima is a synonym of that variety. It carries narrow-lanceolate, rather horizontal dark green leaves with wavy edges, blades reaching roughly 12 cm long, and it is frequently confused with the similar narrow-leaf var. angustifolia (Anubias lanceolata).

Did you know

The name is a bit of a botanical mix-up: what most shops label Anubias minima is really the glabra variety, not a distinct species, and it is also sold under names like 'Kruising', so two plants with different labels on the shelf can be the exact same variety.

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