Cryptocoryne walkeri "lutea"

The yellow water trumpet was long regarded as a separate species; it was described in 1931 by A.H.G. Alston under the name Cryptocoryne lutea. Later it was found that this plant from Sri Lanka (= Ceylon) falls within the range of variation of Cryptocoryne walkeri. In the trade, however, this C. walkeri form is often still offered under its old name C. lutea.

Like its close relatives from Sri Lanka (Cryptocoryne wendtii, C. beckettii, C. undulata), Cryptocoryne walkeri "lutea" is an easy-to-keep plant that has been known in the aquarium hobby for a long time.

However, different plants are in cultivation under the name C. lutea. Paffrath (1979) describes the underwater leaves as follows: leaf blade 8 - 12 cm long and 2 - 3 cm wide, with a dark green upper side and a reddish to green underside. Base of the leaf blade slightly rounded, leaf tip pointed. Leaf margin finely undulate in the lower half of the blade. Petiole relatively long.

According to Wilstermann-Hildebrand & Hildebrand (2011), both intensely purplish-red and green-brown plants with a streaked pattern are available in the trade under the label C. lutea.

- To be continued -