Cryptocoryne parva
Family: Araceae.
Synonyms: C. nevillii sensu auct., non Hook, f.
Etymology: Cryptocoryne: see C. affinis\ parva: small.
Distribution: Central Sri Lanka. Description: Marsh plant, up to 10 cm tall. Leaves l-6( —10) cm petiolate. Blade narrow elliptical to lanceolate, entire, emersed 1.5-• 2.5 cm long, 0.4-0.8 cm wide, submersed up to 2 cm long, 0.2-0.3 cm wide, smooth, medium to dark green. Apex acute; base cune-ate. Indistinct venation.
Spathe 1.5-2.5(—3.5) cm long. Tube 0.7-1.5 cm long. Limb 0.4-1.2 cm long, not caudate, obliquely twisted, interior rough to mammillate, purple-red in color. Collar and throat dark purple-red. Female flowers 4-6. Male flowers 30-50. Number of chromosomes 2n = 28.
Culture: Cryptocoryne parva is the smallest Cryptocoryne. The species features a good adaptability to cultivation conditions. Even though it counts among the rather slow-growing plants, it has enjoyed great popu larity for many years because of its un-problematic cultivation. Soft water, as found in the natural locations, is not necessary for cultivation because C. parva also tolerates hard tap water with pH-values within the alkaline range. Washed sand is adequate as substrate. In a bright place within the aquarium, the leaves will spread horizontally, in shady places they will, in turn, develop more upright. Vegetative propagation proceeds fairly slowly. Optimum temperature range is 23-28 °C. An emersed cultivation, during which inflorescences will occasionally develop, is also unproblematic.
Ecology: The species grows as a marsh plant in dense communities on the banks of fast-moving rivers. Even though C. parva has often been collected, only Horst (1986), who located the species together with C. x willisii in Mahaweli-Ganga, has published a water analysis: temperature 26 °C, GH/KH 0.7 °dH, pH 6.8, 36 |xS/cm, Fe 0.1 mg/L as well as many other trace elements. The substrate was loamy, the location sunny and only occasionally slightly shaded.
- Spathe of Cryptocoryne parva. Cryptocoryne parva with infructescence.
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