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Form of Anubias barteri

Anubias Petite Round

Anubias barteri 'Petite Round'

One of 29 forms of Anubias barteri · See all forms →

Also known as Anubias barteri var. nana 'Petite Round', Anubias nana Petite Round

FreshwaterBrackishRhizomeRhizome division

Forms · Anubias barteri

See all 29 →

Care at a glance

Light
Low light
CO2
No CO₂ needed
Temperature
72–82°F
22–28°C
Max height
3.1 in
8 cm
Growth rate
Slow
Placement
Epiphyte
Type
Rhizome
pH
6.0–8.0
Hardness
2–18 dGH
Spread
3.9 in (10 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Easy
Family
Araceae
Origin
Cultivated (nursery selection, parentage unpublished)

Overview

Anubias Petite Round is one of the easiest small epiphytes, a compact anubias that lives on wood or stone. It grows slowly and asks very little of you.

Did you know

A full cushion of Anubias Petite Round is a genuinely old plant. At a handful of new leaves per year, the dense mats in show tanks represent years of growth, or several plants glued close together.

Caring for Anubias Petite Round

Glue or thread the rhizome to wood or stone and leave it alone. Never bury it, because the rhizome rots under substrate.

Anubias Petite Round grows in low light with no added CO2. It feeds mainly from the water column, and its fertilizer demands are minimal. A lean liquid dose keeps new leaves coming.

Under strong light, the slow, long-lived leaves become algae magnets. Shade it, or keep shrimp and snails on cleanup duty. Propagate by cutting the rhizome into pieces with a few leaves each.

Good to know

Anubias Petite Round is an aroid in the family Araceae, one of the many compact anubias selections propagated by nurseries rather than described botanically. It pairs the tiny stature of the Petite with noticeably rounder, coin-shaped blades. Retailers list it under Anubias barteri and under var. nana, and its exact parentage has never been published.

In the wild

Anubias Petite Round is a nursery selection known only from cultivation. Its parent line traces to Anubias barteri var. nana, which grows in Cameroon in West Africa. That parent lives semi-emersed on rocks and roots along shaded rainforest streams. Its rhizome stays anchored above the mud while its leaves go in and out of the water.

Common questions

Is Anubias Petite Round a different species from Anubias barteri?

No. Anubias Petite Round is a form of Anubias barteri. It reaches about 3.1 in (8 cm), against 13.8 in (35 cm) for the species. It also differs in difficulty and spread.

Does Anubias Petite Round need to be planted in the substrate?

No. Anubias Petite Round grows attached to rock or wood, so tie or glue the rhizome in place. If you plant its roots, keep the rhizome above the substrate, since a buried rhizome rots.

Does Anubias Petite Round need CO2?

No. Anubias Petite Round grows well without added CO2 and suits a low-tech tank.

How much light does Anubias Petite Round need?

Anubias Petite Round is a low-light plant, and the light that comes with a standard tank kit is enough for it.

Does Anubias Petite Round need root tabs?

No. Anubias Petite Round feeds from the water, so a liquid fertilizer suits it better. Root tabs only help if its roots reach into the substrate.

How do you propagate Anubias Petite Round?

Anubias Petite Round propagates by rhizome division. Cut the rhizome into pieces with several leaves each, then tie or plant each piece.

How tall does Anubias Petite Round grow?

Anubias Petite Round grows to about 3.1 in (8 cm) tall. It grows slowly and rarely needs trimming.

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