Description
This remarkable Cryptocoryne was found longer ago in streams in the Western Ghats region of southwestern India, cultivated since the 1980s as Cryptocoryne sp. "Shola forest". It turned out as very suitable aquarium plant, however it is still little known in the aquarium hobby. It was described as a new variety of Cryptocoryne spiralis in 2013, under the name C. spiralis var. caudigera. The submerged plant is light green and about 20-35 cm high. The soft, flexible, narrow leaves form a dense tuft with time and normally get only 0.5-1 cm wide. The plant forms rather short runners.
The Shola Cryptocoryne is not demanding and hardly affected by the "Crypt melt". It grows well in soft to medium-hard water, However the lighting should be at least moderate, and also a nutrient-rich bottom is beneficial. The plant has a moderately slow growth rate and forms a dense tuft with many leaf rosettes with time. It is easily propagated by splitting.
Cryptocoryne spiralis var. caudigera) can be used in many ways, e.g. in the background of small aquariums or as bush in the midground of larger tanks. With its well controllable growth and moderate height it is very interesting for aquascaping. According to its origin in montane forest streams it is also well suited for stream biotope tanks where its narrow leaves sway in the current. Grown as emersed paludarium plant, it stays lower (about 15 cm) than in its submerged form.
Source
Flowgrow
Characteristic
Also known as Cryptocoryne spiralis "Shola"
Narrow-leaved light green rosette plant
Very short runners, bushy growth
Undemanding
Rarely available in trade
Synonyms
Cryptocoryne spiralis ''Shola Forest'', Cryptocoryne spiralis ''Shola'', Cryptocoryne sp. ''Shola''
Complete Botanical Name
Cryptocóryne spirális (Retz.) Fisch. ex Wydler var. caudígera Bogner
Family
Araceae
Genus
Cryptocoryne
Category
Middle Ground
Difficulty
very easy
Growth
medium
Propagation
Splitting, Cutting off daughter plants
Can Grow Emersed?
yes
Height
20-35 cm
Width
15-20 cm
