# Cryptocoryne > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Cryptocoryne > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Cryptocoryne.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptocoryne > Source revision: 1341477081 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Genus of aquatic plants Cryptocoryne Cryptocoryne wendtii 'Green' Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Clade: Embryophytes Clade: Tracheophytes Clade: Spermatophytes Clade: Angiosperms Clade: Monocots Order: Alismatales Family: Araceae Subfamily: Aroideae Tribe: Cryptocoryneae Genus: Cryptocoryne Fisch. ex Wydler Synonyms[1] Myrioblastus Wall. ex Griff. ***Cryptocoryne*** is a [genus](/source/Genus) of [aquatic](/source/Aquatic_plant) [plants](/source/Plant) from the family [Araceae](/source/Araceae). The genus is naturally distributed in [tropical](/source/Tropics) regions of [India](/source/India), [Southeast Asia](/source/Southeast_Asia) and [New Guinea](/source/New_Guinea).[1] The English [common name](/source/Common_name) **"water trumpet"** refers to their [inflorescence](/source/Inflorescence), a [spadix](/source/Spadix_(botany)) enclosed by a [spathe](/source/Bract#Spathe) (typical for the whole family), which resembles a trumpet. The genus is commonly referred to as **Crypts** by aquarium hobbyists. The typical [habitats](/source/Habitat_(ecology)) of *Cryptocoryne* are mostly streams and rivers with not too rapidly flowing water, in the lowland forest. They also live in seasonally inundated forest pools or on river banks submerged only at high water. ## Taxonomy ### Taxonomic history The first *Cryptocoryne* species was described in 1779 as *Arum spirale* by [Retzius](/source/Anders_Jahan_Retzius). The genus was described by [Friedrich Ernst Ludwig von Fischer](/source/Friedrich_Ernst_Ludwig_von_Fischer) in 1828.[2] However, the [scientific classification](/source/Biological_classification) of *Cryptocoryne* species remains controversial.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] ### Relationship with other genera of Araceae *[Lagenandra](/source/Lagenandra)* is another genus closely related to the genus *Cryptocoryne*. The two can be easily told apart since the leaves of *Cryptocoryne* species exhibit [convolute vernation](/source/Vernation#Convolute_vernation) whereas *Lagenandra* species exhibit [involute vernation](/source/Vernation#Involute_vernation).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] ## Etymology The name *Cryptocoryne* is derived from the Greek *crypto*, hidden, and *koryne*, meaning club. The common name (water trumpet) refers to the shape of its inflorescence, which is typical of the [Araceae](/source/Araceae) family.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Inflorescence of *C. pontederiifolia* *C. wendtii* "Green", the most popular *Cryptocoryne* A form of *C. wendtii* produced by Tropica Aquarium Plants ## Cultivation and uses Some *Cryptocoryne* are popular commercially cultivated [aquarium](/source/Aquarium) plants. Submerged plants [reproduce vegetatively](/source/Vegetative_reproduction), emerse plants may [flower](/source/Flower) and reproduce [sexually](/source/Sexual_reproduction). Many species are cultivated only by dedicated experts and are very hard to grow, or are not present in a culture at all. Some species are [endangered](/source/Endangered_species) because their natural habitats are disappearing. On the other hand, some water trumpets (e.g. *Cryptocoryne beckettii*) are very hardy aquarium plants, easy to grow to the point that they have become an [invasive species](/source/Invasive_species) after being introduced in [Florida](/source/Florida) in [North America](/source/North_America).[3] Cryptocoryne is either found in peat bogs or on limestone; the latter do well in most aquaria, the former must have soft water to survive and need decomposing [leaf litter](/source/Leaf_litter) to do well. *C. striolata,* while found primarily in [peat bogs](/source/Peat_bogs), has also been found growing on [limestone](/source/Limestone). [Borneo](/source/Borneo) is home to many endemic crypts previously thought to grow only in tea-colored soft acid water emulating peat bogs but exploration of habitats from 2005 to 2010 showed about half grew on limestone as well. These hardwater *Cryptocorynes* are generally the easier ones to keep (in fact, some species, such as *Cryptocoryne wendtii* are said to be among the most versatile of aquarium plants); they tolerate low or bright light but grow faster in more intense light. This water plant's range is around 12 to 33 °C, and slightly alkaline to neutral [pH](/source/PH). Plants of the genus *Cryptocoryne*, which range from [India](/source/India) to [New Guinea](/source/New_Guinea) are found in very diverse conditions. Some are true acid loving plants such as *C. pallidnerva*, found in peat bogs in Borneo, while others such as *C. crispatula var. balansae* and *C. pontiderifolia* are found in streams with limestone beds—hard alkaline water. One species, *C. ciliata* is even found in semi-[brackish](/source/Brackish) water in some areas. It is one of the few aquarium plants that tolerates salt concentrations. *Cryptocoryne* plants have been in cultivation in the aquarium hobby since the late 18th century, although it was not until the 1960s that more than a handful of species was known and became more common in the hobby. New species still regularly crop up as interest in these plants widens and more collecting expeditions by private parties are carried out. ## Crypt melt A phenomenon often encountered when planting new crypts in an aquarium is commonly called *Crypt melt*, whereby the plant loses all its leaves.[4] There seem to be two possible causes for this. Rapid environmental change is thought to trigger this, as these plants do not seem to adapt well to transplantion, and may need 30 days or so to become established and for the leaves to regrow. Experienced growers report that it is better to plant crypts in aquariums that have been established for at least three months.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] In the wild, crypts can grow fully submerged underwater, but in some plant nurseries they are often grown emersed and crypt melt could then be triggered by the change from emerse to submerse conditions. There is lately a trend for such nurseries to send crypts as just a rootstock (i.e. without the leaves) to reduce shipping costs and because the leaves will be lost anyway once planted in an aquarium. Other reports[5] emphasise the need to change the aquarium water regularly to prevent the buildup of nitrates which are thought to trigger this condition (often referred to as a *disease*). ## Species [*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] - *[Cryptocoryne affinis](/source/Cryptocoryne_affinis)* N.E.Br. in J.D.Hooker - Thailand, Malaysia - *[Cryptocoryne alba](/source/Cryptocoryne_alba)* de Wit - Sri Lanka - *[Cryptocoryne albida](/source/Cryptocoryne_albida)* R.Parker - southern China, eastern India, Bangladesh, Indochina - *[Cryptocoryne annamica](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_annamica&action=edit&redlink=1)* Serebryanyi - Vietnam - *[Cryptocoryne aponogetifolia](/source/Cryptocoryne_aponogetifolia)* Merr. - Philippines - *[Cryptocoryne aura](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_aura&action=edit&redlink=1)* - West kalimantan - *[Cryptocoryne auriculata](/source/Cryptocoryne_auriculata)* Engl. - Sarawak, Philippines - *[Cryptocoryne bangkaensis](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_bangkaensis&action=edit&redlink=1)* Bastm. - Sumatra - *[Cryptocoryne beckettii](/source/Cryptocoryne_beckettii)* Thuill. ex Trim. - Sri Lanka; naturalized in Texas - *[Cryptocoryne bogneri](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_bogneri&action=edit&redlink=1)* Rataj - Sri Lanka - *[Cryptocoryne bullosa](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_bullosa&action=edit&redlink=1)* [Becc.](/source/Odoardo_Beccari) - Sarawak - *[Cryptocoryne ciliata](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_ciliata&action=edit&redlink=1)* (Roxb.) Schott - India, Bangladesh, Indochina, Malaysia, Indonesia, New Guinea, Philippines - *[Cryptocoryne cognata](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_cognata&action=edit&redlink=1)* Schott - India - *[Cryptocoryne consobrina](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_consobrina&action=edit&redlink=1)* Schott - India - *[Cryptocoryne cordata var. cordata](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_cordata_var._cordata&action=edit&redlink=1)* Griff. - Malaysia - *[Cryptocoryne cordata var. siamensis](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_cordata_var._siamensis&action=edit&redlink=1)* Griff. - Thai - *[Cryptocoryne cordata var. diderici](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_cordata_var._diderici&action=edit&redlink=1)* Griff. - Sumatra - *[Cryptocoryne cordata var. grandis](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_cordata_var._grandis&action=edit&redlink=1)* Ridl. - Northeast Borneo - *[Cryptocoryne cordata var. grabowskii](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_cordata_var._grabowskii&action=edit&redlink=1)* Engl. - South Kalimantan - *[Cryptocoryne cordata var. zonata](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_cordata_var._zonata&action=edit&redlink=1)* de Wit. - Sri Aman - *[Cryptocoryne coronata](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_coronata&action=edit&redlink=1)* Bastm. & Wijng. - Philippines - *[Cryptocoryne crispatula var. crispatula](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_crispatula_var._crispatula&action=edit&redlink=1)* Engl. - Southeast Asia - *[Cryptocoryne cruddasiana](/source/Cryptocoryne_cruddasiana)* Prain - Myanmar - *[Cryptocoryne decus-silvae](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_decus-silvae&action=edit&redlink=1)* de Wit - Johor - *[Cryptocoryne dewitii](/source/Cryptocoryne_dewitii)* N.Jacobsen - Papua New Guinea - *[Cryptocoryne purpurea nothovar. edithiae](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_purpurea_nothovar._edithiae&action=edit&redlink=1)* de Wit - South Kalimantan - *[Cryptocoryne elliptica](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_elliptica&action=edit&redlink=1)* N.E.Br. - Malaysia - *[Cryptocoryne ferruginea](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_ferruginea&action=edit&redlink=1)* Engl. - Sarawak - *[Cryptocoryne fusca](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_fusca&action=edit&redlink=1)* de Wit - Borneo - *[Cryptocoryne griffithii](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_griffithii&action=edit&redlink=1)* Schott - Kalimantan, Peninsular Malaysia - *[Cryptocoryne hudoroi](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_hudoroi&action=edit&redlink=1)* Bogner & N.Jacobsen - Kalimantan - *[Cryptocoryne ideii](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_ideii&action=edit&redlink=1)* Budianto - Kalimantan - *[Cryptocoryne jacobsenii](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_jacobsenii&action=edit&redlink=1)* de Wit - Sumatra - *[Cryptocoryne joshanii](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_joshanii&action=edit&redlink=1)* Naive & Villanueva - Philippines - *[Cryptocoryne keei](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_keei&action=edit&redlink=1)* N.Jacobsen - Sarawak - *[Cryptocoryne lingua](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_lingua&action=edit&redlink=1)* Becc. ex Engl - Sarawak - *[Cryptocoryne loeiensis](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_loeiensis&action=edit&redlink=1)* Bastm., T.Idei & N.Jacobsen - Laos, Thailand - *[Cryptocoryne longicauda](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_longicauda&action=edit&redlink=1)*Becc. ex Engl. - Borneo, Malaysia, Sumatra - *[Cryptocoryne mekongensis](/source/Cryptocoryne_mekongensis)* T.Idei, Bastm. & N.Jacobsen - Cambodia, Laos, Thailand - *[Cryptocoryne minima](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_minima&action=edit&redlink=1)* Ridl. - Malaysia, Sumatra - *[Cryptocoryne moehlmannii](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_moehlmannii&action=edit&redlink=1)* de Wit - Sumatra - *[Cryptocoryne nevillii](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_nevillii&action=edit&redlink=1)* Trimen - Sri Lanka - *[Cryptocoryne noritoi](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_noritoi&action=edit&redlink=1)* Wongso - Kalimantan - *[Cryptocoryne nurii var. nurii](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_nurii_var._nurii&action=edit&redlink=1)* Furtado - Peninsular Malaysia - *[Cryptocoryne nurii var. raubensis](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_nurii_var._raubensis&action=edit&redlink=1)* N.Jacobsen - Peninsular Malaysia - *[Cryptocoryne pallidinervia](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_pallidinervia&action=edit&redlink=1)* Engl. - Borneo - *[Cryptocoryne parva](/source/Cryptocoryne_parva)* de Wit- Sri Lanka - *[Cryptocoryne pontederiifolia](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_pontederiifolia&action=edit&redlink=1)* Schott - Sumatra - *[Cryptocoryne purpurea nothovar. purpurea](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_purpurea_nothovar._purpurea&action=edit&redlink=1)* Ridl. - Peninsular Malaysia - *[Cryptocoryne purpurea nothovar. borneoensis](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_purpurea_nothovar._borneoensis&action=edit&redlink=1)* N. Jacobsen, Bastm. - Central Kalimantan - *[Cryptocoryne pygmaea](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_pygmaea&action=edit&redlink=1)* Merr. - Philippines - *[Cryptocoryne retrospiralis](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_retrospiralis&action=edit&redlink=1)* (Roxb.) Kunth - Bangladesh, India, Myanmar - *[Cryptocoryne schulzei](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_schulzei&action=edit&redlink=1)* de Wit - Johor - *[Cryptocoryne scurrilis](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_scurrilis&action=edit&redlink=1)* de Wit - Sumatra - *[Cryptocoryne sivadasanii](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_sivadasanii&action=edit&redlink=1)* Bogner - southern India - *[Cryptocoryne spiralis](/source/Cryptocoryne_spiralis)* (Retz.) Fisch. ex Wydler - Bangladesh, India - *[Cryptocoryne srilankaensis](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_srilankaensis&action=edit&redlink=1)* Yakandawala - Sri Lanka - *[Cryptocoryne striolata](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_striolata&action=edit&redlink=1)* Engl. - Borneo - *[Cryptocoryne thwaitesii](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_thwaitesii&action=edit&redlink=1)* Schott - Sri Lanka - *[Cryptocoryne timahensis](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_timahensis&action=edit&redlink=1)* Bastm. - Singapore *(C. cordata × C. nurii)* - *[Cryptocoryne uenoi](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_uenoi&action=edit&redlink=1)* Yuji Sasaki - Sarawak - *[Cryptocoryne undulata](/source/Cryptocoryne_undulata)* Wendt - Sri Lanka - *[Cryptocoryne usteriana](/source/Cryptocoryne_usteriana)* Engl. - Philippines - *[Cryptocoryne versteegii](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_versteegii&action=edit&redlink=1)* Engl. - New Guinea - *[Cryptocoryne vietnamensis](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_vietnamensis&action=edit&redlink=1)* I.Hertel & H.Mühlberg - Vietnam - *[Cryptocoryne villosa](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_villosa&action=edit&redlink=1)* N.Jacobsen - Sumatra - *[Cryptocoryne walkeri](/source/Cryptocoryne_walkeri)* Schott - Sri Lanka - *[Cryptocoryne wendtii](/source/Cryptocoryne_wendtii)* de Wit - Sri Lanka - *[Cryptocoryne × willisii](/source/Cryptocoryne_%C3%97_willisii)* Reitz - Sri Lanka *(C. parva × C. walkeri)* - *[Cryptocoryne yujii](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_yujii&action=edit&redlink=1)* Bastm. - Sarawak - *[Cryptocoryne zaidiana](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_zaidiana&action=edit&redlink=1)* Ipor & Tawan - Sarawak - *[Cryptocoryne zukalii](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cryptocoryne_zukalii&action=edit&redlink=1)* Rataj - Peninsular Malaysia ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-kikjkkjsdfi83qw4t5rvgagr_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-kikjkkjsdfi83qw4t5rvgagr_1-1) [Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families](http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=51951) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Cryptocoryne spiralis (Retz.) Fisch. ex Wydler"](https://www.gbif.org/species/2869170). *www.gbif.org*. Retrieved 2024-02-11. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Nonnative Invasive Species in Southern Forest and Grassland Ecosystems"](https://www.invasive.org/species/list.cfm?id=14). *Invasive.org*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090624082518/http://www.invasive.org:80/species/list.cfm?id=14) from the original on 2009-06-24. Retrieved 2020-06-13. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [*Cryptocoryne affinis* leaf drop](http://fins.actwin.com/aquatic-plants/month.9603/msg00024.html) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Howto cultivate Crypts"](https://web.archive.org/web/20071016171625/http://www.nationaalherbarium.nl/Cryptocoryne/Howto/howto.html). Archived from [the original](http://www.nationaalherbarium.nl/Cryptocoryne/Howto/howto.html) on 2007-10-16. Retrieved 2007-10-18. Taxon identifiers Cryptocoryne Wikidata: Q1423091 Wikispecies: Cryptocoryne BOLD: 411486 CoL: 8VWL3 EoL: 17859 EPPO: 1KNYG FNA: 108525 FoC: 108525 GBIF: 2863306 GRIN: 3133 iNaturalist: 141488 IPNI: 2753-1 IRMNG: 1023372 ITIS: 182566 NCBI: 49498 Open Tree of Life: 283132 PLANTS: CRYPT7 POWO: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:2753-1 Tropicos: 40017407 WFO: wfo-4000009884 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Cryptocoryne](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptocoryne) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptocoryne?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.