TankBud

Bucephalandra chimaera

Also known as Bucephalandra 'Chimera', Bucephalandra sp. 'Chimera'

FreshwaterRhizomeRhizome division

Care at a glance

Light
Low light
CO2
CO₂ beneficial
Temperature
72–82°F
22–28°C
Max height
6.7 in
17 cm
Growth rate
Slow
Placement
Epiphyte
Type
Rhizome
pH
6.0–7.5
Hardness
4–12 dGH
Spread
5.9 in (15 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root + water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Easy
Family
Araceae
Origin
Borneo (near Nanga Taman, Sekadau regency, West Kalimantan, Indonesia)

Overview

Bucephalandra chimaera is a large Buce, about 17 cm tall in the wild, so it fits the midground. It is easy to grow, though slow.

Did you know

Bucephalandra chimaera shares its home at Nanga Taman with B. aurantiitheca, which grows on exposed rock by the bigger rivers. Wong and Boyce call it highly unusual for two Bucephalandra species to share one site. The leaves of the two look almost the same, so their flowers tell them apart.

Caring for Bucephalandra chimaera

Mount the rhizome of Bucephalandra chimaera on rock or wood, since a buried rhizome rots. Shaded, gently moving water comes closest to its wild streams.

Low light is enough, and CO2 with liquid fertilizer speeds the slow leaf growth. It takes nutrients through its roots and from the water. Keep it at 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C) with a pH of 6 to 7.5.

Change light and water chemistry slowly, because sudden swings often melt Buce leaves. Divide the rhizome once it branches, and keep several leaves on each piece.

Good to know

Wong and Boyce described Bucephalandra chimaera in 2014. They named it for the Chimaera of Greek myth, a beast made from a lion, a goat and a snake. The plant resembles one species in its leaves, another in its flower heads and a third in its male flowers. The blades are oblong-elliptic, 9 to 12 cm long and 2 to 3 cm wide, semi-glossy emerald green with weakly wavy edges. They stand on brownish green stalks 6 to 9 cm long. The revision gives "Chimera" as its trade name.

In the wild

Bucephalandra chimaera is known only from around Nanga Taman in Sekadau regency, West Kalimantan, on Borneo. It grows at the base of large granite boulders along small, shaded forest streams. The site lies under humid lowland forest at about 90 m, and the type plants were collected there in April 2012.

Common questions

Does Bucephalandra chimaera need to be planted in the substrate?

No. Bucephalandra chimaera 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 Bucephalandra chimaera need CO2?

No, but it helps. Bucephalandra chimaera can grow without injected CO2, and added CO2 makes it grow faster.

How much light does Bucephalandra chimaera need?

Bucephalandra chimaera is a low-light plant, and the light that comes with a standard tank kit is enough for it.

Does Bucephalandra chimaera need root tabs?

No. Bucephalandra chimaera 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 Bucephalandra chimaera?

Bucephalandra chimaera propagates by rhizome division. Cut the rhizome into pieces with several leaves each, then tie or plant each piece.

How tall does Bucephalandra chimaera grow?

Bucephalandra chimaera grows to about 6.7 in (17 cm) tall. It grows slowly and rarely needs trimming.

Related plants