Cryptocoryne retrospiralis

Also known as Retrospiralis crypt, Cryptocoryne roxburghiana, Cryptocoryne dalzellii

FreshwaterRosetteRunnersRhizome division

Cryptocoryne retrospiralis (Cryptocoryne retrospiralis) — (c) Siddarth Machado, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by

Care at a glance

Light: Low light
CO2: No CO₂ needed
Growth rate: Slow
Placement: Background
Type: Rosette
Temperature: 68–82°F (20–28°C)
pH: 6.0–8.0
Hardness: 2–18 dGH
Max height: 19.7 in (50 cm)
Spread: 5.9 in (15 cm)
Nutrient uptake: Root + water column
Growth region: Submersed or emersed
Difficulty: Easy
Origin: India
Family: Araceae

Overview

A tall background crypt whose long, narrow, spiraled leaves give a vertical, flowing look that suits taller tanks. It is impressively easy for its height: low light is enough and no CO2 is required, though both speed it up. As a heavy root feeder it wants a nutrient-rich substrate (aquasoil or sand with root tabs) and a couple of inches of depth for the roots. Expect leaf melt when first introduced, this is normal acclimation, after which it grows back and slowly spreads by runners. Leave it in place once planted.

In the wild

Native to the west coast of India and east into Myanmar, growing in streams and slow rivers in lowland forest, in seasonally inundated pools, and on riverbanks that are only submerged at high water. It moves between submersed and emersed life as the water rises and falls through the year.

Good to know

Described long ago by Roxburgh and later placed in Cryptocoryne by Kunth, it carries a string of old synonyms including Cryptocoryne roxburghiana and C. dalzellii. It sits in the Araceae and is closely allied to the crispatula group, distinguished by its narrow, twisting leaves.

Did you know

The species name retrospiralis refers to the leaves twisting back on themselves in a corkscrew, a feature that becomes more pronounced as the plant matures and the leaves lengthen toward half a meter.