Bucephalandra sp. "Riam Macan"

Bucephalandra sp. “Riam Macan” is a relatively small Bucephalandra form that looks very similar to B. sp. “Braun-rot” (“Serimbu”). It was imported to Germany around 2011 and is still very rare in the aquarium hobby.

The trade name has mostly been written “Riam Macam”. It probably refers to the Riam Macan waterfall (pronounced “Riam Matschan”) in West Kalimantan.

The leaves are short-stalked, relatively tough, dull dark green to grey-green on the upper side and somewhat reddish when emerging; the leaf shape is elliptic to obovate and often slightly asymmetric. The leaf tip is rather blunt, but not broadly rounded. The upper side of the leaf is very densely covered with silvery specks (stomata). The rhizome grows rather creeping, and the leaves are mostly spread out flat.

The similar Bucephalandra sp. “Braun-rot” differs from “Riam Macan” in its darker leaf colour, softer leaves and a smaller inflorescence with a pale pink (not white) bract (spathe). It also seems to grow faster than B. sp. “Riam Macan”.

Bucephalandra sp. “Riam Macan” was at first assigned here to Bucephalandra motleyana, following the concept of Bogner & Hay (2000), who distinguish only two Bucephalandra species (B. gigantea and B. motleyana). However, it does not belong to B. motleyana in the strict sense according to the concept of Wong & Boyce (2014). As long as its species identity has not been clarified, the plant is called Bucephalandra sp. “Riam Macan” here.

- To be continued -