Crypts vs Swords

[Hobbit]

What’s the difference between crypts and sword plants? I haven’t seen enough of them in person to get a sense of the difference. And for some reason Google isn’t being helpful.

[Struggle]

In my experience swords can get quite a bit bigger and mine seem to take up more nutrients. Some of my swords touch both sides (short side) of a 75G aquarium and these are single plants. I think I prefer my crypts but both plants have their place. 

[Jungle Fan]

Swords can get very large depending on species, are typical background plants, generally very robust when getting replanted, and are from South America.

Crypts are foreground to mid-ground plants, they tend to melt off and then regrow leaves when replanted, or when they go from emersed to submersed growth, and are from Asia.

Both like iron, and generally do better when root tabs are provided.

This is just the extreme short nutshell version without specifics.

If you are looking for some great in depths info on aquarium plants I can recommend the books by Christel Kasselmann, and Karen Randall., as well as the Aquatic Gardeners Association, of which I am a member.

https://www.aquatic-gardeners.org/