Cryptocoryne albida
Cryptocoryne albida
Also known as Cryptocoryne costata, Cryptocoryne albida 'Brown', Cryptocoryne albida 'Red', Cryptocoryne crispatula var. albida
Care at a glance
- Light
- Low light
- CO2
- CO₂ beneficial
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Placement
- Midground
- Type
- Rosette
- Temperature
- 70–82°F (21–28°C)
- pH
- 6.0–7.8
- Hardness
- 2–15 dGH
- Max height
- 7.1 in (18 cm)
- Spread
- 4.7 in (12 cm)
- Nutrient uptake
- Root + water column
- Growth region
- Submersed or emersed
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Origin
- Southern Myanmar and Thailand
- Family
- Araceae
Overview
An easy, undemanding crypt with slim strap-like leaves 1 to 3 cm wide and up to 15 cm long, often with red-brown color and dark markings under brighter light. It grows in almost any conditions, even very low light, though slowly. Plant several together as single specimens look sparse, use a rich substrate, and it will slowly send out runners to form a stand. Stable water helps it avoid melt.
In the wild
A narrow-leaved, relatively small crypt from flowing waters in southern Myanmar and Thailand. It grows in and along streams, often emersed on the banks during the dry season and submersed when water rises.
Good to know
Described by Richard Neville Parker from Burma in 1931. The name Cryptocoryne costata, described by Gagnepain from Siam in 1941, was later found indistinguishable and is now treated as a synonym. Some authorities place it as Cryptocoryne crispatula var. albida. In the hobby, brown-leaved plants were traditionally sold as 'costata' and green forms as 'albida', though intermediate forms occur in the same wild populations.
Did you know
The brown 'costata' and green 'albida' forms sold as separate plants for decades turned out to be the same species, with leaf color driven mostly by light and how the plant was grown rather than by genetics.
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
- Glass Aqua Aquascaping plants and planted tank supplies
- Buce Plant Aquatic plants and aquascaping supplies
- Aquarium Plants Factory Aquatic plants shipped from a California greenhouse
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Low-light plants · Midground plants · Cryptocoryne · Beginner plants
Growing Cryptocoryne albida?
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