Range and localities [?]: South Thailand
Cryptocoryne crispatula var. flaccidifolia is a variety of C. crispatula with long, narrow, smooth to undulate, green to reddish-brown leaves. The leaves of emersed plants are flaccid (flaccidifolia = "with flaccid leaves"). Submersed leaves grow to a length of 20 to 50 cm and a width of 5 to 12 mm.
Its leaf width differs from that of C. crispatula var. tonkinensis (2-4 mm wide leaves) and from C. crispatula var. balansae (15-40 mm wide leaves). Moreover, var. balansae has bullous leaves, whereas those of var. tonkinensis and var. flaccidifolia do have a smooth to undulate margin but no bullous pattern in the leaves.
This variety of Cryptocoryne crispatula is quite variable, like many other varieties of that plant, and there are intermediate forms, too. Thus, not all plant from the group of C. crispatula can be safely assigned to a variety.
C. crispatula var. flaccidifolia is found in Thailand, Vietnam and Southern China (Guangxi), where it grows mainly submersed in rivulets and rivers.
Those plants sold as "Cryptocoryne retrospiralis" in trade for many years probably all belong to C. crispatula var. flaccidifolia. True C. retrospiralis from India is only rarely in cultivation (Kasselmann 2010 and The Crypts Pages).
The plant sold as "Cryptocoryne tonkinensis" in trade also usually do not belong to C. crispatula var. tonkinensis, but to C. crispatula var. flaccidifolia (www.heimbiotop.de).
Cryptocoryne crispatula var. flaccidifolia may not be as well-known as var. balansae, but it is as recommendable, easy-to-care for aquarium plant. Its up to approx. 50 cm long leaves make it suitable for high tanks. It also does well in harder water and prefers moderate to intensive lighting. Like most other Cryptocorynes, C. crispatula var. flaccidifolia reproduces by subterranean runners, and after some time it forms a dense group.
The narrower leaves of C. var. flaccidifolia look more grass-like than those of var. balansae, and fit beautifully to a Nature Aquarium layout.
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Cryptocoryne crispatula var. flaccidifolia is not as well known as the variety balansae, but is an equally recommendable, easy-to-keep aquarium plant with comparable requirements. It tolerates water with high carbonate hardness and should preferably be lit moderately strongly to strongly rather than weakly. C. crispatula var. flaccidifolia can grow relatively fast and, like most other Cryptocorynes, multiplies by underground runners. As a result it forms a dense stand over time. As already mentioned under "General", in an old stand the thin rhizomes often grow out of the substrate in a stem-like manner. One can cut off the "heads" with the leaf rosette and replant them in the substrate. Several side shoots then usually develop on the rhizome stumps remaining in the substrate.
If this Cryptocoryne is cultivated in very shallow water or emersed, one can possibly expect inflorescences.
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With leaves up to approx. 50 cm long, Cryptocoryne crispatula var. flaccidifolia is suited above all to taller tanks. It can be used like C. crispatula var. balansae, e.g. as a dense stand at the sides or in the background of the aquarium or as a solitary bush in the midground. Through its narrower, non-puckered leaves it looks even more grass-like than the variety balansae and suits the nature aquarium style very well. Because it makes relatively low demands, this narrow-leaved Cryptocoryne can be used in many ways and is recommended to aquascapers as well as to "fish aquarists". With its long, floating, ribbon-like leaves and its origin in fast-flowing waters, Cryptocoryne crispatula var. flaccidifolia is also a suitable plant for stream and river biotope aquariums.
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