Cryptocorina Ki

Cryptocoryne Kei, scientific name Cryptocoryne keei. This plant is native to Southeast Asia from the island of Borneo. The natural habitat roughly coincides with the territory of the Malaysian state of Sarawak. It is found everywhere in shallow water along the banks of rivers. In the dry season, it turns out to be in the air for some time.

This species has been known in the aquarium trade since the 1960s, however, for a long time it did not have its own name and was mistakenly considered a variety of another species. Vladimir Sadylek introduced this plant as a novelty in a DATZ 1968 paper called Cryptocoryne bullosa. Later, when a different number of chromosomes and differences in inflorescences were discovered, it was isolated as an independent species and scientifically described in 1982 by Niels Jacobsen. He named the new species Cryptocoryne after Malaysian aquarium plant supplier Henry Ong Kee Chuan.

Outwardly, it has many features in common with Cryptocoryne Gudoro, Cryptocoryne Bullos and a number of other closely related species. The plant has linear leaves of dark green or brownish color, collected in a rosette. The surface of the leaf blades is uneven with many “pits”. In a number of sources, Cryptocoryne Key is described as difficult to care for, which is quite true for beginner aquarists. With experience, cultivation will not cause great difficulties if a number of conditions are met: soft nutrient soil, clean running water in an acceptable range of temperatures and hydrochemical values, while the level of illumination does not matter. Able to grow both in aquariums and in paludariums in an environment with high humidity.