Cryptocoryne × willisii "nevillii"

This Cryptocoryne is a very popular, undemanding, low-growing aquarium plant that reproduces through runners, forming nice ground-covering carpets. It was long known under the name "Cryptocoryne nevillii", and sometimes still is. In 1976, Niels Jacobsen found out that it really belongs to the hybrid complex of Cryptocoryne x willisii, whereas Cryptocoryne nevillii is the name of an altogether different species that has nothing to do with C. x willisii.

Cryptocoryne parva was also (and sometimes still is) erroneously called "Cryptocoryne nevillii" in the aquarium hobby.

The group of C. x willisii originates from riverbanks in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. The plant originally described as Cryptocoryne lucens also belongs to this complex (see Cryptocoryne x willisii “lucens”). It can be discerned from C. x willisii "nevillii" when cultivated under the same conditions by its longer very narrowly lanceolate leaves. The leaf blades of C. x willisii "nevillii" are shorter, longish-ovate to lanceolate. In both varieties, the upper sides of the leaves are medium green and show no pattern.
Both varieties cannot always safely be discerned from each other, and, in addition, some more forms of C. x willisii are in cultivation. Small plants of C. x willisii may closely resemble C. parva.


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