Description
"Black Catherinae" is among the most beautiful Bucephalandra forms. With its long, liear, finely crispate, short-stalked leaves it resembles Bucephalandra catherinae and B. belindae but has a bigger size. Its species identity and exact origin are unknown to us; as well as other Bucephalandra, it occurs on rock along fast-flowing rainforest streams on Borneo. We propagate this Bucephalandra in our aquaria for more than one year.
The slim rhizome grows creeping with ascending top and ramifies moderately; it attaches itself on rock or wood by its roots. The leaves are more or less horizontally arranged. They show beautiful bronze brown to dark olive green tones; the underside are silverish grey with reddish midrib. Young leaves are light orange-brown colored. The leaf blades are about 6-7 cm long and 0.7 cm wide. Also as submerged plant, this Bucephalandra regularly develops its decorative, long stalked inflorescences with light pink spathe.
Bucephalandra sp. "Black Catherinae" is not demanding, however it looks best with moderate lighting, good CO2 and nutrient supply and water current. The growth is very slow. In contrast to several other Bucephalandra, this form is hardly susceptible to perforated leaves. It is primarily an epiphyte for the hardscape but can also be fixed to the ground (the rhizome not buried!). It is easily propagated by cutting the stem tip and branches.
Characteristic
One of the most beautiful Bucephalandras
Long, narrow, finely crispate leaves
Horizontal growth habit
Attractive dark colours
Category
Foreground
Carbon Dioxide
need