Summary

Cyptocoryne uenoi is a new species found near Sri Aman in Sarawak. The leaf blade is dark olive brown-green marmorate, ovate to narrowly ovate, the base is cordate and the apex acute, 10-15 cm long in submersed specimens, the surface often strongly bullate. The spathe is 10-15 cm long, the kettle is rather long and narrow, white inside, the limb 7-10 cm long, more or less obliquely twisted, caudate, the surface red purple with distinct transverse protuberances, the collar is distinct and black purple.

Description

Cryptocoryne uenoi Y. Sasaki (Araceae), eine neue Art aus Sarawak. – Aqua-Planta 27: 147-149 (2002).

Rhizome short and rugged, sometimes with long internodes; runners long, slender; cataphylls only present in flowering specimens. Leaves 20-25 cm long, lamina dark olive-brown to brown-green marmorate on the upper surface, green to brownish green on the lower surface, ovate to narrowly ovate, with a more or less cordate base, apex acute, 10-15 cm long in submerged specimens and irregularly ovate, 7-12 cm long in emerged specimens which are also more green, surface often strong¬ly bullate, resulting in the margins and the base appearing irregularly undulate; petiole 8-15 cm long, longest in continuously submerged specimens. Spathe 10-15 cm long, the upper part purplish green on the outside, lower part white; pedun¬cle 1-3 cm; kettle rather narrow, 1.5-2.5 cm long and 0.3-0.5 cm in diameter, white inside; tube 1-2 cm long; spathe limb 7-10 cm long, more or less obliquely forward twisted, caudate, inner surface with dis¬tinct transverse protuberances above the prominent collar, and there are distinct denticulations at the margin around the collar; the colour of the whole inside of the spathe limb is red purple, the collar is black purple. Spadix with 5-6 female flo¬wers in one circle at the base; stigmas rounded to wide elliptical, yellowish; carpels whitish; styles somewhat bend outwards, also whitish; olfac¬tory bodies irregularly rounded, light yellowish; male flowers 30-50, smooth with a distinct purplish zone around the thecae. Naked spadix between the female and male flowers slender, white; flap over the male flowers yellowish. Syncarp unknown.

Type:Sasaki No. M-SUSK, Malaysia, Sarawak, SW of Sri Aman, W of Abok, 25th October 2002 (L holotype).

Distribution

Cryptocoryne uenoi is known from only one small river in Sarawak.

Habitat

Cryptocoryne uenoi grows on a sandy to muddy bottom in slow to more quickly running water, the larger plants are found in deeper water.

Notes

Cryptocoryne uenoi was discovered in a small somewhat cloudy river. The water in this locality is almost always high and cloudy, so I had not been able to find the plant. However, Mr. I. Ueno was lucky to find it at this spot, and sent me some plants in July 2000. At first, I guessed that it was Cryptocoryne bullosa Engler, as there were no flowers. Until my renewed survey in August 2002, I had not seen any flowering specimens. Fortunately, my renewed survey was very successful and easy because the water level in the river was very low at that time. I was very surprised to see the shape of spathe, which looked completely different from anything I had known before.

Etymology

This new plant is named after its discoverer, Mr. I. Ueno, who is an ophthalmic surgeon at a university hospital. During his vacations, he enjoys exploring aquatic plant and fish habitats in South Asia. Even though his main interest is in Labyrinth fish, he is very interested in Cryptocoryne as well, especially for their relations and distribution.

Acknowledgement

I have discussed this new species and its naming with Mr. Jan Bastmeijer and Mr. Niels Jacobsen. Mr. Hidekazu Morisaki translated the Japanese text into English. Mrs. Charlotte Schoemacker and Mr. Helmut Roessler translated the Latin diagnosis. I thank them all for their support.