Did my Crypt just flower?

[stocker]

Looks like this last night, was half an inch lower the previous night.
http://www.arofanatics.com/members/s...er/image01.jpg (think you have to cut and paste the link into a new browser...)

Is it a flower or something else? Should be Wendtii.

[budak]

it looks more like the ripe fruit. Crypt inflorescenes are shaped like a hollow tube. Did you get this plant recently?

[stocker]

Hi budak,

Yeah, I have seen the typical crypt inflorescenes, that's why I am surprised at this in my tank. It's a fruit? I've never seen it, is it a regular occurance?

I'm not sure when I got this plant, as I did get some new plants about 2 weeks ago, but I moved them around with my older plants, so not sure if they are the new ones, but when I got it, there definetely wasn't this stalk of fruit...

[driftw00d]

that does not look like C. wendtii to me. as far as i know crypts do not flower under water, but then there are always exceptions to a rule. i suspect your plant is an Echinodorus species. it's hard to tell from the picture.

to see pics of crypts and their flowers, click here.

[Simon]

i agree with driftwood, it looks more like a echinodorus

[sherchoo]

I myself have not seen any crypts giving anything resembling in the pic. Looking at the pic, I'm almost certain that there is a Echinodorus plant. Maybe a clearer pic of the plant would be helpful.

[stocker]

OK, I'll try to get a clearer pic tonight, but my limitations are
1) my A40 does not get very clear "in-tank" pics, and
2) the "flower" is now left with the "base" and "stalk", though it's about 2+" above gravel level now.

Well, I'm not experienced enough to tell if it's a Echinodorus. But when I got the plant from either Ah Pek's or Teo's farm (not sure cos I have gotten from both, and only both), I specifically told them Crypto Wendtii and this is what either one gave me (and that particular plant looks very much like the other ones). But everyone makes mistakes, so they could be wrong. Anyhow, I'll try to get a better pic, if I can...

[stocker]

I tried taking a pic of it, but the stalk is like melting away (much like when Crypt leaves melt off)

Anyway, I found something that closely resembles what I observe...
http://www.gsas.org/Articles/1997/crypt-seeds.html

[stocker]

Tonight, as I was looking at the tank, near the front on the gravel were some little plantlets. I think some of the seeds must have germinated! Any advice as to how to plant? I just stuck them into the gravel with leaves exposed. There were just lying on the gravel when I found them.

Check it out! The top seedling in the "seedling1" pic seems to have a rhizome with brownish leaves already!
http://www.arofanatics.com/members/s...che=1088006161
http://www.arofanatics.com/members/s...che=1088006161

[lorba]

congraz, crypt-papa! :P

thats the fruit of a cryptocoryne, i only had it once so far. Just let the crypts be, the fish will help scatter them if the water does not.

The seedlings when dropped onto the substrate, will take root and the rhizome should be able to grow(dig) into it.

[lorba]

from http://132.229.93.11/Cryptocoryne


this is a cryptocoryne flower, a spathe


An opened fruit of C. pygmaea. The seeds are visible and ready for distribution. They will germinate immediately.