Cryptocoryne lutea

Cryptocoryne lutea Alston was described as a species from Sri Lanka in 1931 and is now regarded as a synonym of C. walkeri from central Sri Lanka.¹² Its former main character, the development of the collar of the inflorescence, no longer separates it from this species because of gradual transitions.³ In the trade it often still bears the old name, which stands for different plants: deep purple-red ones as well as green-brown ones with streaked markings.¹

The submersed leaves have fairly long stalks and blades 8–12 × 2–3 cm in size, finely wavy along the lower margin, dark green above and green to reddish below.¹ It differs from C. wendtii and C. beckettii in its somewhat stiffer, upright growth, but propagates more slowly.³ It suits groups in the foreground and midground.¹

1. Cryptocoryne walkeri “lutea” – Flowgrow aquatic plant database (accessed 5 October 2026)
2. Cryptocoryne walkeri – Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew (WCVP data as of 4 June 2026, accessed 5 October 2026)
3. Kasselmann, C. (2019): Aquarienpflanzen. 4th edition (German). - Ulmer Verlag, Stuttgart: p. 262.