Bucephalandra sp. "Brownie Purple"

About this plant

Bucephalandra sp. "Brownie Purple" is a small, compact and bushy Bucephalandra trade form whose exact species identity and geographic locality remain unknown. It originates from the Bornean Bucephalandra complex but should not be assigned to a named species without further evidence. The submerged rhizome tends to grow upward and branches repeatedly, producing a dense cluster of shoots. Leaves are small, approximately 2-2.5 cm long and about 8-9 mm wide, spatulate with a rounded tip and a narrowly wedge-shaped base. They are concentrated around the ends of the rhizomes in a rosette-like arrangement. Despite its trade name, submerged coloration is commonly brown-green to light reddish rather than strongly purple. Its general appearance resembles small forms associated with Bucephalandra pygmaea, although this does not establish a species identification. Growth is very slow and care is easy. The plant tolerates low light and can grow without injected CO2, but medium light, stable CO2, good nutrient availability and water movement produce the most attractive specimens. Attach the rhizome to stone or wood or place it on top of substrate without burying it. Propagation is straightforward by separating head shoots or lateral branches.