Anubias is a genus of aquatic and semi-aquatic flowering plant

Flowering plant

The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...

s in the family Araceae

Araceae

Araceae are a family of monocotyledonous flowering plants in which flowers are borne on a type of inflorescence called a spadix. The spadix is usually accompanied by, and sometimes partially enclosed in, a spathe or leaf-like bract. Also known as the Arum family, members are often colloquially...

, native to tropical central and western Africa

Africa

Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...

. They primarily grow in rivers and streams, but can also be found in marshes. They are characterized by broad, thick, dark leaves that come in many different forms. The genus was revised in 1979 and since then its nomenclature

Botanical nomenclature

Botanical nomenclature is the formal, scientific naming of plants. It is related to, but distinct from taxonomy. Plant taxonomy is concerned with grouping and classifying plants; botanical nomenclature then provides names for the results of this process. The starting point for modern botanical...

 has been stable. Species can be determined by using mostly characteristics of the inflorescence

Inflorescence

An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...

. Because of the often shady places where the plants grow, the genus was named after the Egyptian god Anubis

Anubis

Anubis is the Greek name for a jackal-headed god associated with mummification and the afterlife in ancient Egyptian religion. In the ancient Egyptian language, Anubis is known as Inpu . According to the Akkadian transcription in the Amarna letters, Anubis' name was vocalized as Anapa...

, the god of the afterlife. The genus was first described in 1857 by Heinrich Wilhelm Schott

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott was an Austrian botanist well known for his extensive work on the aroids ....

, with A. afzelii

Anubias afzelii

Anubias afzelii is a species belonging to the Aroid genus Anubias. It was first described scientifically by Heinrich Wilhelm Schott in 1857, based on material collected in Sierra Leone by Adam Afzelius, after whom the species was named. The genus Anubias was described simultaneously, with only A....

as its type species

Type species

In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...

.

Reproduction and uses

Anubias, most notably the varying forms of A. barteri, are commonly used in aquarium

Aquarium

An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...

s, usually attached to rocks or bogwood. In contrast to most plants, Anubias generally prefer subdued lighting and can also produce flowers underwater. In the aquarium they should be placed in shaded areas, otherwise algae will develop on the leaves.

Anubias are considered by many aquarists some of the easiest plants to maintain, since their light and nutrient requirements are very low and also because herbivorous

Herbivore

Herbivores are organisms that are anatomically and physiologically adapted to eat plant-based foods. Herbivory is a form of consumption in which an organism principally eats autotrophs such as plants, algae and photosynthesizing bacteria. More generally, organisms that feed on autotrophs in...

 fish will not eat it (with a few exceptions). This is why Anubias are some of the few plants which can be used in aquariums with African cichlid

Cichlid

Cichlids are fishes from the family Cichlidae in the order Perciformes. Cichlids are members of a group known as the Labroidei along with the wrasses , damselfish , and surfperches . This family is both large and diverse. At least 1,300 species have been scientifically described, making it one of...

s and goldfish

Goldfish

The goldfish is a freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae of order Cypriniformes. It was one of the earliest fish to be domesticated, and is one of the most commonly kept aquarium fish....

es.

Reproduction in artificial environments can be accomplished by stolon division or from side shoots. The stolon

Stolon

In biology, stolons are horizontal connections between organisms. They may be part of the organism, or of its skeleton; typically, animal stolons are external skeletons.-In botany:...

 must always be above the substrate in order to survive, otherwise it will rot and the plant dies. It is also possible to propagate Anubias by seed.

The natural growth rate of all species in this genus is rather slow. Usually, they produce a leaf every 3 weeks, or even slower. And while they were once thought to be among the few plants that do not respond to CO₂ addition, hobbyists have seen great results and improved growth with CO₂ and high light intensity.

The most commonly available species of this genus is Anubias barteri Schott, which is very polymorphic and is subdivided into several varieties. The biggest representatives of the genus are Anubias gigantea Chevalier ex Hutchinson and Anubias heterophylla Engler. Their leaf-stems can grow up to 83 cm, with leaves 40 cm long and 14 cm broad with lateral lobes up to 28 cm long and 10 cm broad. The smallest representative is Anubias barteri var. nana

Anubias barteri var. nana

Anubias barteri var. nana was first described by Adolf Engler in 1899 as A. nana. The species was reduced to varietal status in 1979.-Description:...

(Engler) Crusio, with a height up to 10 cm and with leaves up to 6 cm long and 3 cm broad.

Anubias can best be grown emerse (above water). For this reason they may be used in paludarium

Vivarium

A vivarium is a usually enclosed area for keeping and raising animals or plants for observation or research...

s.

Quick facts

Anubias afzelii Schott

Anubias afzelii

Anubias afzelii is a species belonging to the Aroid genus Anubias. It was first described scientifically by Heinrich Wilhelm Schott in 1857, based on material collected in Sierra Leone by Adam Afzelius, after whom the species was named. The genus Anubias was described simultaneously, with only A....

• Narrow-leafed, medium-sized Anubias
• Characteristics: plant with stolon
• Leaf-stem: up to 20 cm
• Leaves: 13-35 cm long, 3-13 cm broad
• Height in aquarium: 25 - 30 cm

Optimal conditions:

• Temperature: 22 - 27 °C
• pH: 6.0 - 7.0
• Water hardness: 2 dGH - 6 dGH
• Position in aquarium: middle to back
• Usual growth rate: one leaf every 2 months

Anubias barteri Schott

Common varieties:

Anubias barteri var. angustifolia (Engler) Crusio

Anubias barteri var. angustifolia

Anubias barteri var. angustifolia was first described by Adolf Engler in 1915 as A. lanceolata f. angustifolia. The species obtained varietal status within A. barteri in 1979.-Description:...

• Synonym: Anubias lanceolata f. angustifolia Engler
• Narrow leafs, similar to afzelii, but much smaller
• Leaf-stem: up to 32 cm
• Leaves: up to 18 cm long, up to 3.5 cm wide
• Height in aquarium: 10 - 15 cm

Optimal conditions:

• Temperature: 20 - 27 °C
• pH: 5.5 - 8.0
• Water hardness: < 8 dGH
• Position in aquarium: middle
• Usual growth rate: one leaf every 2 months

Anubias barteri var. barteri

Anubias barteri var. barteri

Anubias barteri is a West African species of Anubias, first described in 1860 by Heinrich Wilhelm Schott. It occurs in south-eastern Nigeria, Cameroon and on Bioko.-Description:...

• Compact, heart-shaped anubias
• Leaf-stem: up to 23 cm
• Leaves: 7-23 cm long, 4-11 cm wide
• Height in aquarium: 25 - 45 cm

Optimal conditions:

• Temperature: 20 - 27 °C
• pH: 5.5 - 9.0
• Water hardness: < 20 dGH
• Position in aquarium: back
• Usual growth rate: one leaf every 3 months

Anubias barteri var. caladiifolia Engler

Anubias barteri var. caladiifolia

Anubias barteri var. caladiifolia was first described by Adolf Engler in 1915.-Description:This plant's large leave blades are 1.5-2.5 times as long as wide cm long. The petioles are 10-54cm long, from 1-2.5 times as long as the blade...

• Heart-shaped anubias
• Leaf-stem: up to 54 cm
• Leaves: 10-23 cm long, 5-14 cm wide
• Height in aquarium: 7 - 30 cm

Optimal conditions:

• Temperature: 20 - 27 °C
• pH: 5.5 - 8.0
• Water hardness: < 20 dGH
• Position in aquarium: middle to back
• Usual growth rate: one leaf every 2 months

"Anubias barteri var. coffeefolia"

• New leaves are red-brown

Several varieties of Anubias barteri (and also some specimens of some other species) will sometimes produce red-brown leaves. Although these plants have been traded under the name "Anubias barteri var. coffeefolia", this name has no taxonomic status. Leave color is not important in determining to which Anubias species a certain plant belongs.

Anubias barteri var. glabra N. E. Brown

• Synonyms: Anubias lanceolata N. E. Brown, Anubias minima Chevalier.
• Narrow-leafed, large anubias
• Leaf-stem: up to 35 cm long
• Leaves: spear-shaped, up to 21 cm long, 9 cm wide
• Height in aquarium: 30 - 50 cm

Optimal conditions:

• Temperature: 22 - 27 °C
• pH: 5.5 - 8.0
• Water hardness: < 20 dGH
• Position in aquarium: back
• Usual growth rate: 4 - 8 leaves per year

Anubias barteri var. nana (Engler) Crusio

Anubias barteri var. nana

Anubias barteri var. nana was first described by Adolf Engler in 1899 as A. nana. The species was reduced to varietal status in 1979.-Description:...

• Synonym: Anubias nana Engler
• Dwarf, creeping, with heart-shaped leaves
• Leaf-stem: up to 5 cm long
• Leaves: up to 6 cm long and 3 cm wide
• Height in aquarium: 5 - 10 cm

Optimal conditions:

• Temperature: 22 - 27 °C
• pH: 5.5 - 9.0
• Water hardness: 3 - 10 dGH
• Position in aquarium: front
• Usual growth rate: one leaf every month

Anubias gigantea Chevalier ex Hutchinson

• Synonyms: Anubias gigantea var. tripartita Chevalier, Anubias hastifolia var. robusta Engler
• Large arrow-shaped leaves
• Leaf-stem: up to 83 cm long
• Leaves: up to 30 cm long and 14 cm wide, with large lateral lobes up to 28 cm long and 10 cm broad
• Seldomly used in aquariums

Anubias gilletii De Wildeman & Durand

• Initially heart-shaped, later with long rear fringes
• Leaf-stem: up to 40 cm
• Leaves: arrow-shaped, 25 cm long, 12 - 13 cm wide, lateral lobes up to 13 cm long
• Height in aquarium: 25 - 40 cm

Optimal conditions:

• Temperature: 22 - 27 °C
• pH: 6.0 - 8.0
• Water hardness: 4 - 10 dGH
• Position in aquarium: back
• Usual growth rate: 2 - 6 leaves per year

Anubias gracilis Chevalier ex Hutchinson

Anubias gracilis

Anubias gracilis was first mentioned in 1920 by Chevalier and thereafter validly described by Hutchinson and Dalziel in 1936.-Description:Its long-stalked medium-green leaves are spade-shaped and may grow to 12 inches in length .-Cultivation:...

• Whether this is a separate species or another variety of Anubias barteri is doubtful
• Leaf-stem: up to 33 cm
• Leaves: triangular heart-shaped, 12 cm long, 4-10 cm wide, lateral lobes up to 7 cm long and 3 cm wide
• Height in aquarium: 20 - 30 cm

Optimal conditions:

• Temperature: 24 - 27 °C
• pH: 6.0 - 8.0
• Water hardness: 5 - 12 dGH
• Position in aquarium: middle to back
• Usual growth rate: 2 - 6 leaves per year

Anubias hastifolia Engler

• Synonyms: Amauriella hastifolia (Engler) Hepper, Anubias hastifolia var. sublobata Engler, Anubias auriculata Engler, Amauriella auriculata (Engler) Hepper, Anubias haullevilleana De Wildeman, Anubias laurentii De Wildeman, Amauriella obanensis Rendle, Amauriella talbotii Rendle
• Leaves: long heart-shaped
• Leaf-stem: up to 67 cm long
• Leaves: up to 33 cm long and 14 cm wide, lateral lobes up to 26 cm long and 8 cm broad
• Height in aquarium: 30 - 50 cm

Optimal conditions:

• Temperature: 22 - 27 °C
• pH: 6.0 - 8.0
• Water hardness: < 20 dGH
• Position in aquarium: middle to back
• Usual growth rate: 2 - 6 leaves per year

Anubias heterophylla Engler

Anubias heterophylla

Anubias heterophylla is a species belonging to the Aroid genus Anubias. It was first described scientifically by Adolf Engler in 1879.- Synonyms :...

• Synonyms: Anubias congensis N. E. Brown, Anubias congensis var. crassispadix Engler, Anubias affinis De Wildeman, Anubias engleri De Wildeman, Anubias bequertii De Wildeman, Anubias undulata (trade name)
• Very large species, for tall aquariums
• Leaf-stem: up to 66 cm long
• Leaves: 38 cm long, 13 cm wide, sometimes with very short basal lobes
• Height in aquarium: 25 - 60 cm

Optimal conditions:

• Temperature: 24 - 27 °C
• pH: 5.5 - 8.0
• Water hardness: 5 - 12 dGH
• Position in aquarium: back
• Usual growth rate: 2 - 4 leaves per year

Anubias pynaertii De Wildeman

• Leaf-stem: up to 45 cm
• Leaves: up to 29 cm long and 14 cm broad