[junglemike]

There are two varieties of Cryptocoryne ciliata in Sarawak: Crypt ciliata var. latifolia and Crypt. ciliata var. ciliata.

Crypt ciliata var. latifolia has cordate leaf, it does not form runner & has lateral shoots.

Crypt. ciliata var. ciliata has lanceolate leaf, forms runners and the plant is much bigger than the first one.

Below is the pictures taken at the natural habitat of Crypt ciliata var. latifolia:

Pix 1:

Pix 2

Pix 3

Pix 4

 

[junglemike]

There is another semi-aquatic plant looks very similiar to Crypt. ciliata. Both can be found growing in the same place; it is Aglaonema griffithii. It is another type of aroid found in brackish riverbank.

 

[Khamul1of9]

Very cool pix. I love the foliage on the C. ciliata!

 

[junglemike]

Very cool pix. I love the foliage on the C. ciliata!

Thanks for viewing...

 

[Ghazanfar Ghori]

I'd never seen pictures of, heck even known about, the cordate leaves - very cool.

 

[junglemike]

I'd never seen pictures of, heck even known about, the cordate leaves - very cool.

This is a less common variety. The common one is var. ciliata.

 

[Xema]

Really nice Mike, so latifolia var, grows as Lagenandra, it does?
We always show interesting pictures of plants in captivity, really is missed a point of view as your contribution, viewing plants in wild is always an enriching experience. Thanks a lot.

 

[junglemike]

Really nice Mike, so latifolia var, grows as Lagenandra, it does?
We always show interesting pictures of plants in captivity, really is missed a point of view as your contribution, viewing plants in wild is always an enriching experience. Thanks a lot.

Welcome Xema. But next "mission" is to find the flower of this variety....

 

[Yoong]

Mike,

I collected these somewhere near Kuching. It was growing in a polluted river. I even found death chicken there and the whole place stinked. The plant is fulling submerge during high tide and fully emersed during low tide. Was wondering it was ciliata because the leaf is slightly different from those I saw before. After seeing your pictures, I am wondering whether it is Cryptocoryne ciliata var. latifolia.

Interesting point about this plant is it doesn't send long runner. The plantlet grow from the side of the mother plant and it is very easily broken off. In fact when I soak the plant, the plantlets utomatically. Wondering whether in nature this is another way of propagation, break away and carried downstream.

Yoong

 

[Kai Witte]

Hello Yoong,

Yes, these short and brittle runners are typical for var. latifolia (which is the triploid form of ciliata). Like seeds, they are more likely to reach new places and may succeed in starting a new ciliata colony...

 

[miremonster]

Hello Mike,
it's interesting to read that these two varieties are distinguishable not only in cultivation but also in the wild. Does C. c. var. latifolia prefer different habitats than var. ciliata?
I wonder if Aglaonema griffithii could be grown submerged in a tank.

 

[junglemike]

Hello Mike,
it's interesting to read that these two varieties are distinguishable not only in cultivation but also in the wild. Does C. c. var. latifolia prefer different habitats than var. ciliata?
I wonder if Aglaonema griffithii could be grown submerged in a tank.

Same habitat but different river.

 

[junglemike]

Mike,

I collected these somewhere near Kuching. It was growing in a polluted river. I even found death chicken there and the whole place stinked. The plant is fulling submerge during high tide and fully emersed during low tide. Was wondering it was ciliata because the leaf is slightly different from those I saw before. After seeing your pictures, I am wondering whether it is Cryptocoryne ciliata var. latifolia.

Interesting point about this plant is it doesn't send long runner. The plantlet grow from the side of the mother plant and it is very easily broken off. In fact when I soak the plant, the plantlets utomatically. Wondering whether in nature this is another way of propagation, break away and carried downstream.

Yoong

Looks like latifolia to me. Yoong, may I know which river?

 

[Yoong]

Mike,
I was on leisure trip with my wife. Didn't think the finding was significant and hence did not note down the name of the river. I will give you the rough directional guide using pm. Please check.

Below is some photos taken using my hand phone. Just to share.

Plants fully submerged during high tide. Note the pollution in the river, there is a layer of oil covering it. I was suprised to find crypt here.

Same plants during low tide. Fully emersed.

Yoong

 

[junglemike]

Mike,
I was on leisure trip with my wife. Did think the finding was significant and hence did not note down the name of the river. I will give you the rough direction guide using pm. Please check.

Below is some photos taken using my hand phone. Just to share.

Plants fully submerged during high tide. Note the pollution in the river, there is a layer of oil covering it. I was suprised to find crypt here.

Same plants during low tide. Fully emersed.

Yoong

Thanks for sharing your pictures & the info. It's a great news that u found it in that area cos I never expected latifolia can be found there. Usually the common var. ciliata can be found almost anywhere in brackish rivers of Borneo.

 

[Yoong]

Mike,
I am also suprised that I found crypt there. I was actually on the way to somewhere and took the first picture on the way there during high tide. The river was damn dirty and the water smell. I didn't try to collect it because I didn't believe I found crypt in this kind of condition. And there is no way that I am going into that water.

On the way back, I stopped by again and recheck. The plant was fully emersed. Since I don't have to go into waist high water, I went down and took some picture and collected a few plants. This is the dirtiest river I even step into and the village kids were wondering why this crazy fellow going into the river to collect and take picture of some "Weed".

You can see in the second picture that the river is filled with rubbish, used cloth, plastic bag and etc. I even saw a death chicken with hundreds of flies on it. Felt so disgusted that I have to quickily look for a tap to wash my legs immediately. Sometime I think I am crazy. Luckily I am not alone here. hahaha.

Yoong

 

[junglemike]

Mike,
I am also suprised that I found crypt there. I was actually on the way to somewhere and took the first picture on the way there during high tide. The river was damn dirty and the water smell. I didn't try to collect it because I didn't believe I found crypt in this kind of condition. And there is no way that I am going into that water.

On the way back, I stopped by again and recheck. The plant was fully emersed. Since I don't have to go into waist high water, I went down and took some picture and collected a few plants. This is the dirtiest river I even step into and the village kids were wondering why this crazy fellow going into the river to collect and take picture of some "Weed".

You can see in the second picture that the river is filled with rubbish, used cloth, plastic bag and etc. I even saw a death chicken with hundreds of flies on it. Felt so disgusted that I have to quickily look for a tap to wash my legs immediately. Sometime I think I am crazy. Luckily I am not alone here. hahaha.

Yoong

Beware of crocodile when u want to go into the water cos long time ago got a kid was attacked & eaten by the croc. in that area!

 

[Yoong]

Beware of crocodile when u want to go into the water cos long time ago got a kid was attacked & eaten by the croc. in that area!

Wow, now you are scaring me.......... I suppose I should be glad that I am still alive.

Yoong

 

[junglemike]

Wow, now you are scaring me.......... I suppose I should be glad that I am still alive.

Yoong

Yup, Crypt ciliata is growing in the habitat of men-eating crocodile...hee...hee...

 

[miremonster]

A synonym of Aglaonema griffithii is Aglaodorum griffithii. If accepted, the genus Aglaodorum contains only this single species.