TankBud

Form of Bucephalandra sp.

Bucephalandra Velvet

Bucephalandra sp. 'Velvet'

One of 17 forms of Bucephalandra sp. · See all forms →

Also known as Buce Velvet, Bucephalandra Velvet 3 Color

FreshwaterRhizomeRhizome division

Bucephalandra Velvet (Bucephalandra sp. 'Velvet')
Aquarium Plants Factory · Used with permission

Forms · Bucephalandra sp.

See all 17 →

Care at a glance

Light
Low light
CO2
CO₂ beneficial
Temperature
70–82°F
21–28°C
Max height
3.9 in
10 cm
Growth rate
Slow
Placement
Epiphyte
Type
Rhizome
pH
6.0–7.5
Hardness
4–12 dGH
Spread
4.7 in (12 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root + water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Easy
Family
Araceae
Origin
Borneo (Indonesia)

Overview

Attach the rhizome to hardscape and leave it exposed, as burying it causes melt. Velvet is named for its soft velvety-textured leaves, which start light brown-red and mature to a deep brownish-green. It is undemanding in low light without CO2, but strong flow, added CO2, and steady parameters bring out the richest color and reduce leaf melt after planting.

In the wild

'Velvet' is a Bucephalandra trade form from the shaded, fast-flowing streams of Borneo, where the genus grows attached to rock as a rheophyte. In nature these plants form dense mats over stones kept wet by splashing current.

Good to know

Velvet is a horticultural selection rather than a described species, so it carries a trade name instead of a scientific epithet. Bucephalandra belongs to the arum family (Araceae), and every described member of the genus is endemic to Borneo.

Did you know

Bucephalandra reproduces so slowly and stays so localized in Borneo's streams that many trade forms like Velvet are named after a single collection site, and much of the plant in the hobby now comes from tissue culture rather than wild harvest.

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