Anubias
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 Anubias barteri var. nana on a bogwood (top view)
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Anubias is a genus of aquatic and semi-aquatic flowering plants in the family Araceae, native to tropical central and western Africa. They primarily grow in rivers and streams, but can also be found in marshes. They are characterized by broad, thick, dark leaves that come in many different forms. The genus was revised in 1979[1] and since then its taxonomy has been stable. Species can be determined by using mostly characteristics of the inflorescence.
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[edit] Reproduction and uses
Anubias are commonly used in aquariums, usually attached to rocks or bogwood. In contrast to most plants, Anubias generally prefer subdued lighting and can also produce flowers underwater. In the aquarium they should be placed in shaded areas, otherwise algae will develop on the leaves.
Anubias are considered by many aquarists some of the easiest plants to maintain, since their light and nutrient requirements are very low and also because herbivorous fish will not eat it. This is why Anubias are some of the few plants which can be used in aquariums with African cichlids and goldfishes.
Reproduction in artificial environments can be accomplished by stolon division or from side shoots. The stolon must always be above the substrate in order to survive, otherwise it will rot and the plant dies. It is also possible to propagate Anubias by seed[2].
The natural growth rate of all species in this genus is rather slow. Usually, they produce a leaf every 3 weeks, or even slower. Unfortunately, these are also among the few plants that do not respond to CO2 addition.
The most commonly available species of this genus is Anubias barteri Schott, which is very polymorphic and is subdivided into several varieties. The biggest representatives of the genus are Anubias gigantea Chevalier ex Hutchinson and Anubias heterophylla Engler. Their leaf-stems can grow up to 83 cm, with leaves 40 cm long and 14 cm broad with lateral lobes up to 28 cm long and 10 cm broad. The smallest representative is Anubias barteri var. nana (Engler) Crusio, with a height up to 10 cm and with leaves up to 6 cm long and 3 cm broad.
Anubias can best be grown emersed (above water). For this reason they may be used in paludariums.
[edit] Quick facts
- Anubias afzelii Schott
- Narrow-leafed, medium-sized Anubias.
- Characteristics: plant with stolon.
- Leaf-stem: uo to 20 cm
- Leaves: 13-35 cm long, 3-13 cm broad
- Height in aquarium: 25 - 30 cm
Optimal conditions:
- Temperature: 22 - 27 °C
- pH: 6.0 - 7.0
- Water hardness: 2 dGH - 6 dGH
- Position in aquarium: middle to back
- Usual growth rate: one leaf every 2 months
- Anubias barteri Schott
Common varieties:
- Anubias barteri var. angustifolia (Engler) Crusio
- Synonym: Anubias lanceolata f. angustifolia Engler.
- Narrow leafs, similar to afzelii, but much smaller
- Leaf-stem: up to 32 cm
- Leaves: up to 18 cm long, up to 3.5 cm wide
- Height in aquarium: 10 - 15 cm
Optimal conditions:
- Temperature: 20 - 27 °C
- pH: 5.5 - 8.0
- Water hardness: < 8 dGH
- Position in aquarium: middle
- Usual growth rate: one leaf every 2 months
- Anubias barteri var. barteri
- Compact, heart-shaped anubias
- Leaf-stem: up to 23 cm
- Leaves: 7-23 cm long, 4-11 cm wide
- Height in aquarium: 25 - 45 cm
Optimal conditions:
- Temperature: 20 - 27 °C
- pH: 5.5 - 9.0
- Water hardness: < 20 dGH
- Position in aquarium: back
- Usual growth rate: one leaf every 3 months
- Anubias barteri var. caladiifolia Engler
- Heart-shaped anubias
- Leaf-stem: up to 54 cm
- Leaves: 10-23 cm long, 5-14 cm wide
- Height in aquarium: 7 - 30 cm
Optimal conditions:
- Temperature: 20 - 27 °C
- pH: 5.5 - 8.0
- Water hardness: < 20 dGH
- Position in aquarium: middle to back
- Usual growth rate: one leaf every 2 months
- "Anubias barteri var. coffeefolia"
- New leaves are red-brown
Several varieties of Anubias barteri (and also some specimens of some other species) will sometimes produce red-brown leaves. Although these plants have been traded under the name "Anubias barteri var. coffeefolia", this name has no taxonomic status. Leave color is not important in determining to which Anubias species a certain plant belongs[1].
- Anubias barteri var. glabra N. E. Brown
- Synonyms: Anubias lanceolata N. E. Brown, Anubias minima Chevalier.
- Narrow-leafed, large anubias
- Leaf-stem: up to 35 cm long
- Leaves: spear-shaped, up to 21 cm long, 9 cm wide
- Height in aquarium: 30 - 50 cm
Optimal conditions:
- Temperature: 22 - 27 °C
- pH: 5.5 - 8.0
- Water hardness: < 20 dGH
- Position in aquarium: back
- Usual growth rate: 4 - 8 leaves per year
- Anubias barteri var. nana (Engler) Crusio
- Synonym: Anubias nana Crusio
- Dwarf, creeping, with heart-shaped leaves
- Leaf-stem: up to 5 cm long
- Leaves: up to 6 cm long and 3 cm wide
- Height in aquarium: 5 - 10 cm
Optimal conditions:
- Temperature: 22 - 27 °C
- pH: 5.5 - 9.0
- Water hardness: 3 - 10 dGH
- Position in aquarium: back
- Usual growth rate: one leaf every month
- Anubias gigantea Chevalier ex Hutchinson
- Synonyms: Anubias gigantea var. tripartita Chevalier, Anubias hastifolia var. robusta Engler
- Large arrow-shaped leaves
- Leaf-stem: up to 83 cm long
- Leaves: up to 30 cm long and 14 cm wide, with large lateral lobes up to 28 cm long and 10 cm broad
- Seldomly used in aquariums
- Anubias gilletii De Wildeman & Durand
- Initially heart-shaped, later with long rear fringes.
- Leaf-stem: up to 40 cm
- Leaves: arrow-shaped, 25 cm long, 12 - 13 cm wide, lateral lobes up to 13 cm long
- Height in aquarium: 25 - 40 cm
Optimal conditions:
- Temperature: 22 - 27 °C
- pH: 6.0 - 8.0
- Water hardness: 4 - 10 dGH
- Position in aquarium: back
- Usual growth rate: 2 - 6 leaves per year
- Anubias gracilis Chevalier ex Hutchinson
- Whether this is a separate species of anothe variety of Anubias barteri is doubtful[2]
- Leaf-stem: up to 33 cm
- Leaves: triangular heart-shaped, 12 cm long, 4-10 cm wide, lateral lobes up to 7 cm long and 3 cm wide
- Height in aquarium: 20 - 30 cm
Optimal conditions:
- Temperature: 24 - 27 °C
- pH: 6.0 - 8.0
- Water hardness: 5 - 12 dGH
- Position in aquarium: middle to back
- Usual growth rate: 2 - 6 leaves per year
- Anubias hastifolia Engler
- Synonyms: Amauriella hastifolia (Engler) Hepper, Anubias hastifolia var. sublobata Engler, Anubias auriculata Engler, Amauriella auriculata (Engler) Hepper, Anubias haullevilleana De Wildeman, Anubias laurentii De Wildeman, Amauriella obanensis Rendle, Amauriella talbotii Rendle
- Leaves: long heart-shaped
- Leaf-stem: up to 67 cm long
- Leaves: up to 33 cm long and 14 cm wide, lateral lobes up to 26 cm long and 8 cm broad
- Height in aquarium: 30 - 50 cm
Optimal conditions:
- Temperature: 22 - 27 °C
- pH: 6.0 - 8.0
- Water hardness: < 20 dGH
- Position in aquarium: middle to back
- Usual growth rate: 2 - 6 leaves per year
- Anubias heterophylla Engler
- Synonyms: Anubias congensis N. E. Brown, Anubias congensis var. crassispadix Engler, Anubias affinis De Wildeman, Anubias engleri De Wildeman, Anubias bequertii De Wildeman, Anubias undulata (trade name)
- Very large species, for tall aquariums
- Leaf-stem: up to 66 cm long
- Leaves: 38 cm long, 13 cm wide, sometimes with very short basal lobes
- Height in aquarium: 25 - 60 cm
Optimal conditions:
- Temperature: 24 - 27 °C
- pH: 5.5 - 8.0
- Water hardness: 5 - 12 dGH
- Position in aquarium: back
- Usual growth rate: 2 - 4 leaves per year
- Anubias pynaertii De Wildeman
- Leaf-stem: up to 45 cm
- Leaves: up to 29 cm long and 14 cm broad
