This decorative Lagenandra is delivered from the Netherlands as Lagenandra sp. ‘Green’. We have identified it as Lagenandra nairii, native to Kerala in southwestern India. This species occurs along rivers where it may also grow fully submerged during the rainy season. Lagenandra nairii is rather rarely available in trade. Its sturdy leaves are ovate, slightly heart-shaped with a blade up to about 7 cm long. The leaf edge is wavy and ruffled. The leaf stalks are coated with short hairs. The overall habit of the plant resembles a larger Cryptocoryne. The delivered emersed plants are about 6 to 12 cm high. The inflorescence has a red-brown spathe blade that is strikingly bent sidewards.

Although Lagenandra species are swamp plants in the first place, they are also able to grow under water. As aquarium plants, Lagenandras prefer a nutrient-rich substrate and not too low lighting. The temperatures should lie above 22 °C, optimally 24-26 °C. With time, Lagenandras form a stout creeping rhizome. They can be propagated by cutting off daughter rosettes or rhizome splitting. Lagenandra nairii is the only Lagenandra that also develops undergrund runners like a Cryptocoryne.

Lagenandra nairii is well suited as a green, quite broad-leaved accent plant or small group in the midground. It contrasts well with plants of other texture and coloration. As emersed plant, this tropical aroid should also be interesting for paludariums with high humidity where one may expect its interestingly shaped inflorescences.

May suffer “crypt melt” when acclimating to different water parameters but will rebound. As a result try not to move the plant once settled.

Can be propagated by either splitting the rhizome or cutting and replanting the runners.

Notes:

• If received in a pot, please remove all rock wool from the roots. Where possible we try and ship without pots or rockwool. Due to them being non-biodegradable we prefer to propagate in an environmentally conscious way.
• CO2 will generally yield better growth rates.
• Stable water conditions are a must, changes should occur over a period of time in order to reduce chances of melting etc.