Cryptocoryne spiralis Nari

Cryptocoryne spiralis 'Nari'

One of 5 forms of Cryptocoryne spiralis · See all forms →

Also known as Nari Crypt, Cryptocoryne Nari

FreshwaterRosetteRunners

Forms · Cryptocoryne spiralis

See all 5 →

Spiralis
Tiger
Red
Jwala
NariThis page

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: 4–18 dGH
Max height: 15.7 in (40 cm)
Spread: 5.9 in (15 cm)
Nutrient uptake: Root + water column
Growth region: Submersed or emersed
Difficulty: Easy
Origin: Selected form of Cryptocoryne spiralis, native to India
Family: Araceae

Overview

A forgiving background crypt with a grass-like look. Plant the rosettes in nutrient-rich substrate or feed with root tabs, space them a few centimetres apart, and then leave them alone; crypts resent being moved and may melt back after planting before regrowing. Low light and no CO2 are enough, while more light brings out the bronze tones and CO2 speeds the otherwise slow growth. It spreads by runners into loose stands whose twisted leaves sway in the current.

In the wild

Cryptocoryne spiralis comes from the Indian subcontinent, where it grows in seasonal streams, ditches and the margins of rice paddies, submersed during the monsoon and often emersed or resting as the water recedes. 'Nari' is a selected form propagated in tissue culture; the wild plant is the plain species.

Good to know

A water trumpet in the family Araceae. Cryptocoryne means hidden club, for the spadix concealed inside the spathe, and spiralis refers to the twisted limb of that spathe. The species was described from India in the 18th century, before the genus existed, and it is the type species of Cryptocoryne. 'Nari' is a horticultural selection with narrower, more strongly twisted tape leaves that pick up bronze to reddish tones under stronger light; it has no botanical standing.

Did you know

The plain species behind this cultivar is the original crypt: Cryptocoryne spiralis was described before the genus existed and later became its type species. 'Nari' gave this very old aquarium plant a modern relaunch through the tissue culture trade.