Echinodorus 'Oriental'

Echinodorus 'Oriental' is one of the oldest cultivars of the genus and has been in cultivation since 1994.¹ It is named after a nursery in Singapore,¹ and a Danish one is also given as its origin.² It is said to have originated in a tissue culture of 'Rosé', where it appeared spontaneously as a mutant;¹² according to its breeder, 'Rosé' is a cross between E. horizontalis and a red form of E. uruguayensis.¹

This rhizome plant stays compact at up to approx. 15 cm tall and grows considerably more slowly than 'Rosé'.¹ A striking feature is the pale veins of the narrow, pointed, slightly wavy and somewhat translucent blades.¹ New leaves are pale pink, or deep pink under strong light; sources differ on whether they later turn green or redder.¹² This light-loving cultivar is recommended for the foreground of small, bright tanks; its almost horizontal inflorescences produce only a few adventitious plantlets.¹