Crypt Bunch

[Tanked]

The "Crypt Bunch" I bought 16 months ago has recently begun changing.  Now that there is more plant to look at, this might be a good time to re-ask the question: What kind of crypt is it? 

 

[Fish Folk]

Here’s a nice overview of several common subspecies.

If I had to float a guess… maybe… cryptocorne wendetti (tropica)? Here’s a few different photos online under varied lighting to compare…

 

 

Edited February 9, 2022 by Fish Folk

[Tanked]

On 2/9/2022 at 10:10 AM, Fish Folk said:

Here’s a nice overview of several common subspecies.

If I had to float a guess… maybe… cryptocorne wendetti (tropica)? Here’s a few different photos online under varied lighting to compare…

 

 

The third picture is really close.   The picture below is the same plant 1 year ago.  I gave the plant a severe trimming in September to eliminate part of an ongoing algae problem.  The plant came back with a much flatter growth habit

[Odd Duck]

Tropica looks likely, but axelrodi looks possible, too.  Some varieties of wendtii have some markings, so I couldn’t rule it out (and it’s by far the most common crypt out there).  There are so many factors to affect Crypt growth habits and color that it’s very hard to be certain unless they’re a Crypt that has a very distinctive color or form.  Even Crypt. pontederiifolia has color varieties, although I’ve never personally seen any but the bright, almost neon green.

Flatter growth habit typically is a response to brighter light.  The plants feels less need to “reach” toward the light.

[Tanked]

On 2/9/2022 at 11:32 AM, Odd Duck said:

Tropica looks likely, but axelrodi looks possible, too.  Some varieties of wendtii have some markings, so I couldn’t rule it out (and it’s by far the most common crypt out there).  There are so many factors to affect Crypt growth habits and color that it’s very hard to be certain unless they’re a Crypt that has a very distinctive color or form.  Even Crypt. pontederiifolia has color varieties, although I’ve never personally seen any but the bright, almost neon green.

Flatter growth habit typically is a response to brighter light.  The plants feels less need to “reach” toward the light.

As you and @Fish Folk suggested, after seeing more photos I'm leaning towards Tropica.  Lighting in my planted tank is controlled in part by the water level, which controls the floating Anacharis.  The stray leaves in the original post are Italian Val. runners.  The IV are planted along the back of the tank where it is brightest, but this one decided to run to the front with the Crypt, and the Anubia.  I guess it is possible that the Crypt and IV prefer the1 hour+ of morning sun.  Either way, I'll take it.

[Odd Duck]

On 2/10/2022 at 10:27 AM, Tanked said:

As you and @Fish Folk suggested, after seeing more photos I'm leaning towards Tropica.  Lighting in my planted tank is controlled in part by the water level, which controls the floating Anacharis.  The stray leaves in the original post are Italian Val. runners.  The IV are planted along the back of the tank where it is brightest, but this one decided to run to the front with the Crypt, and the Anubia.  I guess it is possible that the Crypt and IV prefer the1 hour+ of morning sun.  Either way, I'll take it.

 Tropica is a fairly safe bet, but impossible to tell without seeing a bloom.  If you can get a bloom, I would suggest you go to “The Crypts Page” for an ID.

https://crypts.home.xs4all.nl/Cryptocoryne/index.html

Val will pretty much run to wherever it wants.  Once it settles in, it will either shoot to the top or runner all over, then shoot to the top.  If you want it denser, just turn the runners back into the main grouping.  This helps control it and makes the group denser, which is a win/win usually.