Tissue Culture Cup

• New aquarium plant from the Philippines
• Still rarely available
• Excellent aquarium suitability
• Small light green, elliptic leaves

Schismatoglottis prietoi is a small aroid that is perfectly suitable as aquarium plant. This Schismatoglottis is a quite new species for science as well as for the aquarium hobby. It is native to the Philippines and was first found on Cebu Island. It was scientifically described and named in honour of its discoverer, Esquerion Prieto, in 2015. It grows largely submerged in nature and develops large stands in sandy to gravelly riverbeds by its runners, comparable to Cryptocoryne species. Its small, elliptic, glossy leaves resemble those of Anubias ‘Petite’ but are lighter green, the plant also grows faster than this Anubias.

This small rhizome plant is planted into the ground. There are reports that it can be used as an epiphyte on rock, however, in contrast to Schismatoglottis roseospatha and Anubias, it does not attach itself to solid materials by adhesive roots. Its roots may anchor in porous materials such as lava rock, otherwise they grow in loose substrate as it is known from e.g. Cryptocoryne. Schismatoglottis roseospatha has no special demands and grows with low to high carbonate hardness, a pH value of about 6 – 8 and temperatures between about 20 and 28 °C. However, medium lighting and a good nutrient supply, also via the substrate, are very beneficial. The growth may be quite slow in the beginning but accelerates after establishing. With time, this Schismatoglottis forms a dense, broad stand. It is easily propagating by splitting and separating of young plantlets.

This new aquarium plant deserves wide spread in the aquarium hobby and can be used in many ways, best as group in the foreground to midground of an aquarium. In “geographically correct” Asia-themed tanks it is a right replacement for similar Anubias forms, originating from Africa.