Subclass Alismatidae
Order Alismatales
Family Araceae
Continued…
Genus Anubias.
Anubias lanceolata.
«1» This plant species is widely distributed throughout tropical Africa. In nature, it reaches 45 cm in height, and 30 cm in aquarium conditions. In young plants, the leaves are gathered in a rosette; in adult plants, they are alternate, broadly lanceolate, up to 15 cm long and up to 5 cm wide, rounded at the base, tapering towards the apex with a blunt tip, dark green above, slightly wavy, convex, glossy, green with a matte tint below; the main vein is clearly visible, somewhat depressed on the upper side, protruding on the lower side, lateral veins are faintly visible with shadow lines forming along them. Another form is known — Anubias lanceolata f. angustifoha. Unlike the typical form, it has lanceolate, narrower leaves.
«4» The rhizome is creeping, up to 1.5 cm thick, sometimes branched, and sometimes with tuberous thickenings and traces of fallen leaves. It prefers loose, silted substrate and forms a strong root system, so the substrate layer should be at least 5-7 cm. During the plant’s growth period, root fertilizers—pieces of nutrient-rich clay and peat—must be applied.
«5» In the aquarium, the plant grows slowly. It should be planted in groups in the middle or background. It is recommended to plant it in the most shaded areas of the aquarium to protect the plants from algae aggression. It easily tolerates replanting and develops evenly throughout the year. Secure fixation in the substrate and leaf rigidity allow anubias to be cultivated in an aquarium with cichlids. It produces 4-6 leaves per year. It forms rather picturesque thickets consisting of adult plants up to 30-35 cm high and offshoots developing on the creeping rhizome.
«6» It reproduces by daughter plantlets. A new plant can also be grown from a piece of the rhizome, but this is done only if the plant has developed a large rhizome. A piece of the rhizome should be separated as follows: the rhizome is removed from the substrate, and a part of it is cut off (1/3 remains with the mother plant). The resulting cutting is divided into parts, each of which must have buds. The rhizome can be cut without removing the plant from the substrate so as not to disturb the root system. The root cuttings are placed in the aquarium. After roots and the first leaves appear, they are slightly buried and then planted in the substrate.
Anubias gilletii.
Cameroon. 40 cm. Marsh plant with a creeping rhizome up to 1 cm thick. While plants in a marshy environment grow very large, in an aquarium they are so small that they are easily confused with varieties of Anubias barteri. This anubias grows poorly and briefly underwater, being more suitable for cultivation in paludariums. It will not show its beauty in water.
The leaf blade is leathery, initially cordate or auriculate, with older leaves ranging from sagittate to hastate in shape. The leaf margin is entire, light green to green. The leaves sit quite densely on the creeping rhizome, but the long petiole makes the thickets relatively loose. The plants develop noticeably better under medium-intensity lighting. Water quality must be monitored, and any algae appearing on the leaf blade should be removed in a timely manner. Propagation is vegetative, by division of the rhizome.
Anubias hastifolia.
Synonyms: Anubias auriculata, haullevilleana, laurentii, Amauriella auriculata, obanensis, talbotii. West Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Congo. Anubias hastifolia has longer stems than other members of the genus Anubias with sagittate green leaves. A large auriculate Anubias, which often sends its leaves above the surface even in large aquariums and is reluctant to live underwater. In its original appearance, this Anubias ranks first not only among representatives of its genus.
The leaf blade is leathery, hastate to nearly tripartite, the middle lobe ranges from lanceolate to narrowly ovate or obovate, the leaf apex ranges from acuminate to acute; the base is acute or obtuse. The plant is hardy and relatively undemanding. Regular application of iron-based fertilizer is necessary for optimal growth. Plants cannot tolerate bright lighting and choose shaded areas.
It is best planted in a shady spot to limit algae growth on the leaves. This is a sturdy plant, poorly adapted to underwater life in an aquarium, and grows very slowly underwater. However, it is well worth recommending for keeping in large paludariums. It has very rigid leaves, which most herbivorous fish do not touch, making it a good choice for an aquarium with African cichlids or goldfish. Temperature 22-28°C; pH 6.0-7.5; dH 2-15°.
Anubias heterophylla.
Synonym: Anubias affinis, bequaertii, congensis, engleri; Anubias congensis var. crassispadix. (English – Congo anubias). Western and Equatorial Africa, Angola, Cameroon, Guinea, Congo River. Its typical habitats are overgrown swamps, banks of small rivers, and it often grows on moss-covered rocks and stones. Height 25-45 cm. Width 15 cm.
The leaf blade is leathery, narrowly elliptic to lanceolate, with an acute leaf tip. The leaf color is light green, up to 25 cm long and up to 10 cm wide, oval-tapered at the base and apex, dark green with a glossy tint above, paler below. Venation is pinnate, the main vein is depressed above and forms a ridge below; it and the lateral veins are clearly visible. Varieties differing in leaf shape are known. The petiole is equal to the leaf length or slightly shorter.
Plants develop best in soft water. dH 5-18°; pH 6.5-8. Temperature 20-28°C. Medium-intensity lighting. It has a well-developed root system; the main root is thick and powerful, while adventitious roots are white, cord-like, and creeping. The substrate is sandy-clayey, not particularly demanding regarding nutrients. It should be grown in a large tropical aquarium, where it looks very beautiful.
A slow-growing, relatively rare plant with good adaptation properties. Recommended for keeping in paludariums. In the aquarium, the plant is significantly smaller than when grown terrestrially. It is used mainly in large aquariums; in an open-top aquarium, it can send leaves above the surface. It grows quite tall, so depending on the aquarium size, it can be planted in the middle ground or background. It grows very slowly underwater and is suitable for large paludariums. Propagation is by rhizome division.
Cultivation conditions for Cryptocoryne.
Anubias barteri coffeefolia, glabra, Anubias afzelii . 
